October 1, 2001
NTT DoCoMo launches commercial 3G (FOMA)
NTT DoCoMo launched commercial FOMA 3G service in Tokyo on October 1, 2001 — the world's first wide-scale W-CDMA mobile data network.
What it was for
FOMA delivered packet data at hundreds of kilobits per second — enough for mobile email, early video calls, and i-mode-style apps on the move. It set the template for 3GPP UMTS networks worldwide and pushed handset vendors to build data-first radios. Mobile developers could finally target cellular bandwidth beyond GSM trickle speeds.
Why it's here
FOMA was the first commercial third-generation mobile network at scale.
Why it mattered
It proved cellular could carry multimedia data, paving the way for smartphone app ecosystems.
What it solved
2G networks were voice-centric; mobile services needed dedicated wideband packet capacity.
Related
- iPhone goes on saleJune 29, 2007
- First commercial LTE networks launchDecember 14, 2009