Technology Aug. 17, 2011 - 05:49AM JST ( 2 )

TOKYO —

NTT Docomo Inc will terminate its WIDESTAR mobile satellite services for Type 1 (land) and Type 2 (maritime) satellite phones, including telephone card-based public satellite phone services, and broadcasting on March 31, 2014. Prior to this, credit-based public satellite phone services will conclude on March 29, 2013, while satellite packet communication services will end on March 31, 2012.

The WIDESTAR satellite phone and broadcasting service, which provides voice and packet communication services throughout the country and up to 200 nautical miles off the coast via two geostationary satellites in orbit over Japan, will be replaced by DOCOMO’s WIDESTAR II service launched on April 12, 2010, on which the company has decided to focus its operational resources.

New registrations for WIDESTAR services will close on Friday, Sept 30, 2011.

WIDESTAR II services, including Type 1 and 2 satellite phone, broadcasting and simplified public satellite phone services, will continue to be offered as normal.