NTT DOCOMO
An expert in the mobile industry for more than 25 years , Abeta ’ s career at NTT DOCOMO started as a researcher for 4G in 1997 . In 1997 the second-generation mobile system was introduced in Japan . Instead of GSM , Japan utilised the Personal Digital Cellular ( PDC ) system . “ During this time , data services over the mobile network were initiated , but the data rate was incredibly low , starting at only 2.4kbps ,” Abeta explains . “ It ’ s hard to imagine today , but at that time , only small text messages could be transferred over the mobile network . Eventually , the data rate increased to 28.8kbps .
“ In 1999 , we launched the i-mode service , marking the beginning of internet services over the mobile network . Our
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