AGC Inc. ("AGC") has announced a joint collaboration with NTT DOCOMO, INC. ("NTT DOCOMO"), which is expected to result in the successful development of the world's very first^*1 glass antenna that can be attached to the indoor surface of existing glass. This new product adds base station antenna functions to windows without spoiling the view to outside. The two companies aim to take advantage of this product to expand the mobile phone service area beginning in the first half of 2019.

The volume of mobile communication traffic continues to increase, making it essential to come up with solutions to deliver stable, high-speed communication. An important approach toward this goal is to deconcentrate the traffic in high-traffic areas by installing small-cell base stations^*2, and to achieve this, more antennas must be installed to serve as mobile phone base stations. The current practice is generally to install small-cell antennas onto building roofs or the walls of mid-to-low-rise buildings, but installation is often problematic due to limited availability of installable roofs or walls, and also due to the unsightly appearance of streets and neighborhoods littered with antennas. Therefore, installing antennas inside a building to form a service area was examined.

In order to install antennas inside a building, there were a number of challenges, such as the risk of spoiling the interior design of spaces and attenuation of radio waves through exiting window glass. To overcome those, both companies worked to develop a new antenna with AGC’s ATTOCH^{TM *3} solution, which allows glass to be attached to the indoor surface of existing windows.

This newly-developed glass antenna is a combination of transparent conductive material and glass substrates which offers the following features:

・	Takes advantage of the transparency of glass to be unobtrusive and avoid spoiling interior designs or the view from the window.
・	Decreases attenuation and reflection of radio waves passing through existing window glass by using a newly-developed Glass Interface Layer*4

AGC and NTT DOCOMO intend to continue leveraging their respective strengths to realize a communication environment that delivers even better stability and connectivity.

■ Glass Antenna Summary
1. Glass Antenna Details

・	Does not spoil the appearance of streets or neighborhoods due to being a transparent glass antenna installed onto an existing window.
・	Installation is carried out inside buildings, eliminating the need for scaffolding or foundation work.
・	These glass antennas for small cells provide flexibility for area design due to their ability to be installed almost anywhere and their beam-forming technology.

2. Glass Antenna, Installed Base Station Specifications

Glass antenna

Dimensions	700 mm × 210 mm
Weight	1.9 kg

* Size and weight of antenna glass only. Excludes cables, existing glass fittings, and accessories.Specifications contained in this news release are current at the time of release and subject to change without notice.

Base Station Specifications

Method	TDD-LTE
Frequency	3.5GHz band (BAND42)
Bandwidth	40MHz
MIMO compliant	4×4MIMO
Downlink modulation method	256QAM
Maximum throughput	588Mbps

3. Roles of Each Company

AGC	・Develop and produce the glass antenna, and establish its installation method. ・Considering the effect of glass antennas on the existing window glass.
DOCOMO	・Consider antenna characteristics from the viewpoint of radio wave protection and securing the communication area. ・Ensure practicability of securing the communication area through verification testing.

AGC

Company name	AGC Inc.
Representative	Takuya Shimamura, CEO & Executive Officer
Address	5–1, Marunouchi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Capital	90,873.00 million yen (as of December 31, 2017)
Established	September 8, 1907
Number of employees	6,401 non-consolidated, 53,224 consolidated (as of December 31, 2017)
Primary business activities	・Glass business ・Electronic business ・Chemicals business ・Ceramics business ・Other businesses

NTT DOCOMO

Company name	NTT DOCOMO, INC.
Representative	Kazuhiro Yoshizawa, President and CEO
Address	Sanno Park Tower, 11–1, Nagata-cho 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Capital	949,679.50 million yen (as of March 31, 2017)
Business start date	July 1, 1992
Number of employees	7,767 non-consolidated, 27,464 consolidated (as of March 31, 2018)
Primary business activities	・Telecommunications business ・Smart life business ・Other businesses

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