Japan's SOFTBANK MOBILE recently inked new contract with Ericsson (News - Alert) to build LTE radio access network and enable its customers to enjoy video-sharing, streaming in high definition, facilitated mobility and richer multimedia content, enhanced security and improved latency.

As per the new contract, Ericsson will serve major Japanese cities of Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya by expanding and performing systems integration of SOFTBANK MOBILE's existing packet core network to Evolved Packet Core.

Junichi Miyakawa, Executive Vice President, Director and CTO of SOFTBANK MOBILE Corp., said they will fulfill their customers' expectations and continue to improve their networks.

“With LTE (News - Alert), customers get increased speed and decreased latency, while they will enjoy a wide range of new services and applications,” added Miyakawa. “With Ericsson's support, we will be able to offer our customers high quality LTE services."

Ericsson is in charge of enhancing SOFTBANK MOBILE's packet core network, including systems integration and deployment of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) solution, and building a new LTE radio access network using RBS 6000 multi-standard base stations.

Users can subsequently experience energized speed and decreased latency, lag-free web browsing, online gaming, social media and video conferencing.

"During 2012, many new smartphones, notebooks and tablets with LTE capabilities will be launched in Japan,” said Jan Signell, President of Ericsson Japan. “This will lead to a strong increase in consumer demand for higher data speeds and throughput – a demand that SOFTBANK MOBILE will be able to meet thanks to the state-of-the-art LTE network that we will rapidly deploy.

Ericsson has to date signed 45 LTE/EPC contracts in 23 countries on five continents, and aims to with-hold 25 percent of all essential patents related to LTE, making it the standard's largest single patent holder.