NEW YORK: Hitachi Ltd., Toyota Motor Corp. and other major Japanese firms
plan to set up a joint venture in October to offer advanced communication
systems via a new satellite network to be launched in 2007, a Japanese newspaper
reported.
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun said in its online Tuesday edition that the group
will include about 10 firms, including leading electronics makers like
Mitsubishi Electric Corp.
In 2008, the new company will start offering next-generation services with
the satellite that will enable data transmission of a higher quality than on
existing global positioning system services.
The system can be installed in cars to transmit satellite television or in
mobile terminals to send information on such things as the availability of
parking spaces, the paper said.
The government will provide 100 billion yen ($822 million) to develop and
launch the satellites, while the private sector will pay to develop the
transceiver and operate the system, the paper said.
(C) Reuters limited.