A newspaper article in the April 17, 2004 issue of the Nippon Keizai Shimbun, a prestigious international newspaper, reports on the successful installation and demonstration by V-Network Systems of a 23 GHz Digital TV System in the village of Shiramine, Ishikawa Prefecture, North-Central Japan. The site was selected in part because, due to its location in a mountain area, it is covered by snow during most of winter.News of the trial system was also reported by the local newspaper (Hokuritsu Chunichi Shibun), which said that the system has been approved for a trial phase until March 2005, pending final approval by the Japanese Government.

The wireless CATV system was designed and manufactured by Cable AML for V-Network Systems. It includes a digital headend based on the DHM-4001 module. The headend signal is fed to a solid state broadband transmitter integrated with 90 degree sector antennas. Subscribers use roof-mounted receivers with parabolic dish antennas 24 cm in diameter.

Coverage extends to 2.5 km from the base station. System range was verified with fixed and mobile equipment. An antenna was successfully mounted on a van to verify coverage over the whole area.

According to V-Network Systems, the system cost is estimated to be 67% lower than other options currently available and could be further reduced as volume increases.