Willcom has been struggling to keep up and was pushed to begin reselling NTT DoCoMo's 3G service while it readied a new service based on a next-generation version of PHS. The Willcom Core XGP service started at the beginning of October with speeds of 20Mbps in each direction but it's only available in the very center of Tokyo.

The carrier had planned a much wider roll-out of the technology but was forced to pull back its plans when it had trouble raising money to build the network.

To reassure users who worry about the limited service area for some of these wireless services, mobile access is also available via a network of Wi-Fi hotspots, including on the bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka and a new express train that began running between Tokyo and Narita Airport from the beginning of this month.

Faster wireless services aren't far off. Waiting in the wings is LTE, a next-generation IP-based technology seen as a replacement for current 3G systems. NTT DoCoMo plans to launch a service for PC users in December 2010 and at this month's Ceatec exhibition showed off a sample chip that supported download speeds of 100Mbps and upload speeds of 50Mbps.

LTE is expected to lower the per-packet cost of data communications so its debut will likely inject even more competition into the market.