The Takamatsu City Shopping Arcade in Tokyo is reportedly trialing Nortel’s Wireless Mesh Network to provide mobile Internet access, VoIP and smart card transactions for businesses and customers.

The trial is reportedly part of a national “Digital Community Demonstration Experiment” being conducted by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The goal of the experiment is, put simply, “to continue Japan’s transformation into the world’s most advanced IT nation.” The METI hopes the mall trial will help prove that advanced wireless technology can enhance the shopping and traveling experience for consumers, with an overall goal of using the technology to help revitalize economically-depressed pockets, including Japan’s Kagawa prefecture region, bordering the Seto Inland Sea.


Interestingly, the new wireless mesh network will enable the transfer of transaction data for the new IruCa smart card, a fare collection system developed for the Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railroad (KOTODEN) which can also be used for shopping and other forms of public transportation.

“The use of smart cards for transport and shopping is a growing trend in Japan as the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) begins looking at widespread adoption of the technology for a broad range of commercial and e-government services such as drivers’ licenses and passports,” said Nick Vreugdenhil, president, Japan, Nortel (News - Alert), in a press release. “Takamatsu City Shopping Arcade selected Nortel’s broadband wireless technology for this trial because wireless mesh coverage offers a cost-effective alternative to wireline infrastructure for transfer of IruCa card transaction data from the card readers in shops to the smart card’s central settlement system.”

The wireless mesh network, which is based on WiFi (News - Alert) technology, will also provide high-speed wireless Internet access and VoIP services throughout the massive mall (also known as a shopping “arcade”). NextCom, a Nortel channel partner, is reportedly assisting with the project.

The Digital Community Demonstration Experiment for 2006 is being managed by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corporation (NTT West) and will be featured at the Platform Business Area of the CEATEC JAPAN 2006 industry showcase and exhibition, to be held Oct. 3-7 at Tokyo’s Makuhari Messe.

Nortel made news on TMCnet last week when it announced that Golden West and Venture Communications Cooperative will be delivering new converged communications services in small towns and rural areas throughout South Dakota using Nortel’s VoIP technology. The two carriers will use Nortel’s Carrier VoIP solution to evolve their wireline networks to packet-based infrastructure. The deployment will reduce operation costs and enable the companies to deliver a wide range of advanced communication services such as VoIP, Centrex IP business services and next-generation multimedia communications.

The company also made news in early September when it announced that it had signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding for the sale of its UMTS access business to Alcatel (News - Alert) for $320 million. Nortel hopes the sale will simplify its business and enable it to focus on key markets while ensuring its customers’ UMTS access requirements continue to be met.

To learn more about Nortel and its solutions, visit www.nortel.com.