Stoke announces formation of Stoke Japan K.K. in Tokyo

SANTA CLARA, USA: Mobile broadband gateway developer Stoke Inc. has opened a strategic subsidiary office in Tokyo, Japan and has named one of Japan’s senior technology industry leaders, Dr. Ikuo Nishioka, as director.

The formation of this new office strengthens Stoke’s presence in Japan, reflecting growing interest in Stoke products by operators there and across North Asia to help manage the growing set of challenges in delivering broadband mobile Internet services.

Japan represents one of the most technically advanced mobile communications markets in the world. With leading edge service offerings and a sophisticated subscriber base in excess of 105 million, mobile operators in Japan are defining and implementing architectures, technologies, networks and services at the forefront of the worldwide telecommunications industry. Stoke has already made an impact on the telecom market in Japan with project wins at NTT Docomo.

The formation of Stoke Japan K.K. and an expanded presence in this market will enable Stoke to support the goals of a broader range of Japanese operators and their suppliers as they continue to optimize their current 3G offerings and roll out advanced LTE mobile broadband services.

“The scope of our existing projects with NTT Docomo in Japan highlights Stoke’s capability and technology as globally applicable and increasingly relevant throughout the mobile industry. By instituting a formal Japan office, we are not only establishing a permanent presence in North Asia, but we are opening the door for further expansion via new customer and project wins,” said Vikash Varma, CEO of Stoke. “Furthermore, we are honored to have a highly experienced and influential local business leader such as Dr. Nishioka on board to bolster our presence in this area.”

Dr. Ikuo Nishioka has held leadership positions with several of the world’s top technology companies. Nishioka served as president of Intel Japan and vice president of the sales group of Intel. Upon leaving Intel in 1999, Nishioka established Mobile Internet Capital KK (MIC) an independent venture capital firm with co-investors NTT-DOCOMO, Mizuho Securities, and Internet Research Institute. He served as president and CEO of the company until 2010.

Nishioka then became President of Innovation Research Laboratory Ltd. and President of Nishioka Academy as well as Chief Technology Adviser of MIC.

“Broadband Internet access combined with wireless connectivity is a critical growth sector in Japan and across the region,” said Dr. Nishioka, director of Stoke Japan K.K.

“It creates untold opportunity for increasing productivity and efficiencies as well as enhancing lifestyles. Stoke’s innovative products deliver precisely what wireless network operators need to tackle the current challenges of exploding mobile Internet traffic and the looming challenges of an explosion of the number of connected devices. I look forward to addressing these challenges with mobile operators and building on Stoke’s recent successes.”