NTT DOCOMO has invested 10m US$ in acquiring 11.5% of Blue Ocean Wireless (BOW), an Irish company providing GSM communication systems to the merchant maritime sector.

The Japanese network operator will provide its services to consumers in the sea, in conjunction with the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), who owns a company that is a shareholder of BOW. NTT DOCOMO will assist BOW in providing maritime wireless solutions. and it will surely be a healthy addition to the network coverage of the carrier.

Press release after the jump.

TOKYO, JAPAN, September 11, 2008 --- NTT DOCOMO, INC. announced today that it has invested 10 million U.S. dollars to acquire an 11.5 percent stake in Blue Ocean Wireless (BOW), an Irish company providing GSM communication systems to the merchant maritime sector.

The acquisition is the latest joint endeavor between DOCOMO and its affiliate Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), including PLDT's wholly owned mobile subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART), one of BOW's shareholders. As part of the arrangement, DOCOMO intends to assist BOW's management in adding value to its services for global maritime carriers.

BOW provides GSM connectivity for seafarers by setting up satellite antennas, GSM base stations and conversion devices on vessels, which enable users to make and receive voice calls, and send and receive SMS text messages using their existing handsets. DOCOMO believes that BOW's effective use of bandwidth, low-cost systems and privacy-protection measures give the company distinct competitive advantages over conventional satellite communication services.

DOCOMO's acquisition of a stake in BOW is one of several strategies being taken by the company to expand its global outreach.