NTT DOCOMO, INC. announced that it installed two large-zone base stations for mobile coverage during emergencies in the downtown areas of Nagoya and Gifu cities, two of the more densely populated areas in the Tokai Region between Tokyo and Osaka, which historically has been struck by major earthquakes. Both base stations became operational on September 28.
Large-zone base stations, which are deployed separately from ordinary base stations in times of emergency, are among DOCOMO’s latest efforts to ensure the maintenance of mobile service during blackouts and natural disasters. Capable of sending and receiving signals to/from handsets in 360 degrees over distances of up to approximately seven kilometers, these special base stations are located on high atop extra-earthquake-resistant structures and incorporate independent power supply and redundant transmission lines for uninterrupted service.
DOCOMO will deploy approximately 100 large-zone base stations in densely populated areas nationwide by the end of the year, including five in Tokyo and ten in the Tokai Region that are scheduled to be deployed by the end of October.
