NTT Docomo announced a semiconductor joint venture with Fujitsu, NEC and Fujitsu Semiconductor, to “focus on the development and sales of semiconductor products with built-in modem functions for use in communications equipment.”

In a statement, it was said that the company, Access Network Technology, will “bring together technologies from each of the companies to develop industry-leading communications platform products, and will provide customers with highly competitive products to meet their needs”.

The venture is set to begin operations in August, and will be 52.8 percent owned by Fujitsu, 19.9 percent owned by Docomo, 17.8 percent owned by NEC, and 9.5 percent owned by Fujitsu Semiconductor.

The partners were looking to create a joint venture previously, joined by Panasonic and Samsung, which fell through in April 2012. At the time, it was said that this was because “a consensus on the details of the envisioned company could not be reached by the target deadline”.