TOKYO (WiMAX Day). Final applications were made today to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in Japan for the right to bid on 2.5 GHz WiMAX spectrum licenses. The Ministry received an application from OpenWin, the joint venture of Softbank Corp, eAccess and Goldman Sachs. According to a report in Reuters, Softbank announced today it will invest US$2.1 billion (¥ 250 billion) to build a WiMAX network if awarded a license. An application for spectrum was also made by Wireless Broadband Planning K.K., the joint venture between KDDI and Intel. A third application was made by ACCA Networks and its bid partner, telecoms giant NTT DoCoMo. A separate report in Reuters today also noted that the two companies announced they would invest some US$1.7 billion (¥ 200 billion) through 2015 to construct a WiMAX network, if they receive a license. The PHS operator Willcom also made an application to the Ministry last week. No date has been set for the spectrum auction, however the Ministry has said it will auction two licenses before year-end.