Two groups filed applications on Thursday for licenses to provide mobile WiMAX service in Tokyo, as the government approaches a decision on issuing licenses for the high-speed broadband service.

Open Wireless Network, composed of Softbank and eAccess, filed one of the applications while the other came from ACCA Networks Co. Ltd. and NTT DoCoMo. With the exception of NTT DoCoMo, the companies all provide wired broadband Internet services. NTT DoCoMo and Softbank provide cellular telephone service.

Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications plans to issue two licenses within the next few months and previously said it would only allow existing 3G cellular carriers to own up to one-third of shares in the WiMAX providers, forcing the mobile operators to partner with other carriers.

NTT DoCoMo is the No. 1 cellular carrier in Japan while Softbank holds the No. 3 position. Second-ranked KDDI applied for a license in September as part of the Wireless Broadband Planning KK consortium that includes Intel as a member. That sets the three consortia up in a battle to win the two licenses on offer.

The ministry is pushing the development of WiMAX services to provide both competition and diversity in the mobile data market and as a technology to take over where current 3G and so-called 3.5G services end. Today's cellular data service runs as fast as 3.6Mbps and could eventually extend to 14.4Mbps, but WiMAX is expected to provide on-the-go broadband at speeds of at least 20Mbps.

A mobile WiMAX service is already up and running in Seoul in neighboring South Korea.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.