FOMA (Freedom of Mobile Multimedia Access)

Last updated on Apr 7, 2023

FOMA, which stands for Freedom of Mobile Multimedia Access, is a term that refers to a set of standards and guidelines established by the Japanese government to regulate the use of mobile multimedia services. These guidelines are aimed at ensuring that mobile multimedia services are accessible to all users, regardless of their location or the type of device they are using.

The FOMA guidelines were first introduced in 2001 by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) in Japan. They were designed to promote the widespread adoption of mobile multimedia services, such as video streaming, music downloads, and other multimedia content, by providing users with a consistent and reliable experience across all networks and devices.

In this article, we will explore the history and evolution of FOMA, the key principles and standards that it encompasses, and its impact on the mobile multimedia industry in Japan and around the world.

History and Evolution of FOMA

The concept of FOMA originated in the early 2000s, when mobile phone networks were starting to offer more advanced multimedia services beyond basic voice and text messaging. In Japan, this was driven in part by the success of i-mode, a mobile internet service launched by NTT DoCoMo in 1999 that enabled users to access a wide range of online content, including news, weather, email, and games, on their mobile phones.

However, the rapid growth of mobile multimedia services also created challenges for network operators and device manufacturers, who had to contend with a wide variety of incompatible technologies and standards. This made it difficult for users to access multimedia content reliably, and for content providers to deliver their services to a broad audience.

To address these issues, the MIC established the FOMA guidelines in 2001. These guidelines were based on a set of principles that emphasized the importance of interoperability, openness, and accessibility for mobile multimedia services.

Over time, FOMA evolved to encompass a wide range of standards and technical specifications, including those related to mobile networks, devices, and content delivery. Some of the key milestones in the evolution of FOMA include:

2001: The MIC establishes the FOMA guidelines, which emphasize the importance of interoperability, openness, and accessibility for mobile multimedia services.
2002: NTT DoCoMo launches its first FOMA-compatible handset, the FOMA N2001.
2003: The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) recognizes FOMA as a global standard for third-generation (3G) mobile networks.
2004: FOMA expands to include new services such as video streaming and mobile TV.
2005: The MIC establishes the "FOMA 2020 Vision," which sets out a roadmap for the development of mobile multimedia services in Japan over the next 15 years.
2006: FOMA launches its high-speed data service, HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access), which enables faster download speeds for multimedia content.
2008: FOMA introduces a new standard for mobile TV, called One-Seg, which enables users to watch digital TV broadcasts on their mobile phones.
2010: FOMA introduces a new standard for voice over LTE (VoLTE), which enables high-quality voice calls over 4G networks.
2012: FOMA introduces LTE-Advanced, a new standard for 4G networks that enables even faster download speeds and improved network capacity.
2018: FOMA officially ends its service, as most users had already migrated to the newer, faster LTE network.

Key Principles and Standards of FOMA

The FOMA guidelines are based on several key principles and standards that are designed to promote interoperability, openness, and accessibility for mobile multimedia services. These principles include:

Interoperability: FOMA requires that all mobile devices and networks be interoperable, meaning they can communicate with each other and transfer data seamlessly. This ensures that users can access multimedia content from any device or network, regardless of the manufacturer or carrier.
Openness: FOMA promotes an open ecosystem for mobile multimedia services, where content providers can easily distribute their content to a wide audience and users can access a variety of content from different sources. This encourages innovation and competition in the market, leading to better services and lower costs for users.
Accessibility: FOMA aims to make mobile multimedia services accessible to all users, regardless of their location, device, or physical ability. This includes providing accessible interfaces and tools for users with disabilities, as well as ensuring that networks and devices can operate in remote or rural areas.

To achieve these principles, FOMA encompasses a wide range of technical standards and specifications related to mobile networks, devices, and content delivery. Some of the key standards and specifications include:

3G and 4G networks: FOMA is built on the third-generation (3G) and fourth-generation (4G) mobile networks, which provide high-speed data transfer and support for multimedia services. These networks use a range of technical standards and specifications, such as WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access), and LTE (Long-Term Evolution).
Mobile devices: FOMA requires that all mobile devices be compatible with the 3G and 4G networks, and support a range of multimedia formats and codecs. This includes standards such as MPEG-4, H.264, and AAC.
Content delivery: FOMA sets standards and specifications for the delivery of multimedia content over mobile networks, including protocols such as HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol).

Impact of FOMA

FOMA has had a significant impact on the mobile multimedia industry in Japan and around the world. By promoting interoperability, openness, and accessibility, FOMA has helped to create a more competitive and innovative market for mobile multimedia services, leading to better services and lower costs for users.

In Japan, FOMA played a key role in the success of mobile multimedia services such as i-mode, which helped to drive the adoption of mobile internet services in the early 2000s. FOMA also paved the way for new services such as mobile TV and VoLTE, which have become popular in Japan and other countries.

Outside of Japan, FOMA has influenced the development of global standards for mobile networks and multimedia services. The ITU recognized FOMA as a global standard for 3G networks, and many of the technical standards and specifications developed for FOMA have been adopted by other countries and regions.

Overall, FOMA represents an important milestone in the evolution of mobile multimedia services, and its principles and standards continue to influence the development of new technologies and services in the industry today.