Mobile porn brings Japan's phone network to its knees

Jake Widman
Tuesday, 07 July 2009 02:47

Your IT - Mobility

Japanese mobile carriers have had to limit the heaviest users of their unlimited-data plans, apparently because of the growing popularity of downloadable adult films.

As reported by Bloomberg, Japanese telcos DoCoMo and KDDI have had trouble keeping up with the demands on their 3G networks.

As a result, they've had to place limits on their most demanding customers.

Softbank, the country's third-largest network, is considering similar restrictions on the use of unlimited data plans.

The heavy user traffic hits its peak around midnight and has prompted complaints about slow service from other customers.

"We can’t see customers’ data but can surmise the biggest portion of it is probably movies," said KDDI spokesman Keiichi Sakurai.

The telcos can't tell what kind of movies, but "we can’t deny the possibility those movies include adult content," acknowledged Sakurai.

CONTINUED Page 2.