First Ethernet Backbone for Japan

Crosswave Communications Inc., which is funded by Sony, Internet Initiative Japan, and Toyota, has leased a Tokyo-to-Osaka connection and is offering 10Base-T connecitivity.

by ISP-Planet Staff [August 2, 2001]

Crosswave Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: CWCI) yesterday announced Japan's first long-distance point-to-point 10Base-T Ethernet backbone service.

Crosswave was founded in 1998 by Internet Initiative Japan (Nasdaq: IIJI), Sony Corporation, and Toyota Motor Corporation

Crosswave offers this end-to-end backbone service initially by interconnecting with KVH Telecom between two points connecting Tokyo and Osaka.

KVH Telecom was established by the Fidelity Broadband Group (FBG), a division of U.S.-based Fidelity Investments, one of the world's largest financial services companies.

Crosswave will gradually expand its service scope. This fall, Crosswave expects to add 100Base-T Ethernet.

"Interconnections with KVH Telecom will also enable us to use its local access lines for our core service, Wide-area Ethernet Platform Service," said Akio Onishi, CEO of Crosswave.

Subscribers pay a setup charge of ¥10,000 per port (approx. $80), plus monthly distance charges: ¥600,000 (approx. $4,800) for up to 200 km, ¥900,000 (approx. $7,200) for up to 600 km, or ¥1,200,000 (approx. $9,600) for any greater distance. In addition, a separate charge will be levied for local access lines at either end.

—End