Excite@Home Monday launched its
co-branded cable broadband service in Japan with leading regional cable
company Jupiter Telecommunications Co.
and finance giant Sumitomo Corp.
The move to the other side of the sun makes Excite@Home
Dubbed @Home Japan, the high-speed
Internet service was launched this week in the Tokyo metropolitan area and
northern Kyushu markets. Expanded service deployment to additional markets
are tentatively scheduled in Japan later this year.
Through Jupiter Telecommunication’s cable networks, @Home Japan’s footprint
could provide cable services to more than 5.1 million homes in Japan,
representing about 10 percent of all Japanese households.
Like Excite@Home’s other international portals, the @Home Japan Web site is
localized to provide news, streaming media, lifestyle and entertainment
content popular among the region’s online community.
John O’Farrell, Excite@Home executive vice president of international
operations, said its commercial launch in Japan underscores Excite@Home’s
commitment to provide broadband cable access worldwide.
“The Japanese consumer is a very sophisticated user and increasingly is
demanding the more interesting and useful interactive content that only
broadband can deliver” O’Farrell said. “Our commercial launch in Japan
underscores our commitment and ability to execute on the delivery of
broadband services around the world.”
Mirroring its U.S. strategy, Excite@Home’s global marketing strategy is
designed to aggressively expand its broadband distribution footprint by
teaming up with leading cable firms operating in each international market
segment. In additional to leveraging its cable expertise, Excite@Home
intends to eventually deploy digital subscriber line, satellite and fixed
wireless high-speed services worldwide.
The service complements @Home international availability in Australia,
Benelux and Germany, contributing to the company’s more than 13.5 million
homes passed on a global scale.
O’Farrell said its international business ventures are just starting to
reap the fruits of its investment rewards.
“Through our existing Excite@Home international ventures, we already have a
substantial lead in broadband access and media services in both Europe and
Asia-Pacific,” O’Farrell said.
In April the Excite@Home announced it expects overseas ventures to
contribute about $80 million in revenue this year take on broadband services.
