NTT Mobile Communications Network Inc. (NTT DoCoMo) successfully completed laboratory tests of "pilot-symbol*-aided interference canceler," a technology to increase the system capacity of Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA). NTT DoCoMo has been developing W-CDMA as a radio transmission technology for a third-generation mobile communications system (IMT-2000) that is being promoted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and other related organizations.

W-CDMA has the advantages of larger system capacity, higher data rates, and lower power consumption. With the W-CDMA system, all users use a single frequency, thus limiting capacity due to mutual interference. However, with the application of "pilot-symbol*-aided interference canceler" technology, system capacity could be enlarged nearly 150%.

With 150% more system capacity, it is hoped that the system will become more suited to mobile multimedia, including the transmission of full motion video.

* A pilot-symbol is a periodically transmitted specific signal for estimating the condition of the transmission channel.