KDDI and Softbank, two of Japan’s big three wireless carriers, announced that they would each offer high-capacity data plans for between ¥3,000 and ¥4,500 (about $29 and $43 USD) a month. The Nikkei reports that the new plans are in direct response to the government’s calls for mobile phone companies to cut prices. Currently, consumers in Japan pay much higher calling and data fees than those in most other countries.
KDDI
KDDI currently offers an unlimited data plan for ¥7,650 a month. Through its sub-brand UQ Mobile, it plans to offer a new 20GB plan for ¥3,980 a month and a 10GB plan for ¥2,980 a month. KDDI’s new plans do not include charges for voice calls. KDDI plans to start offering these new data plans in February 2021.
Softbank
Softbank currently offers a 50GB-data plan for ¥7,480 a month. Through its subsidiary Y!Mobile, it plans to offer a new 20GB plan for ¥4,480 a month and a 10 GB plan for ¥3,680 a month. Softbank’s plans will offer free calling for calls of 10-minutes or less. Accounting for the difference in the calling charges, KDDI and Softbank’s new data plans are priced at almost exactly the same level. Softbank plans to launch its new data plans in December.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications had requested the big three mobile phone carriers to offer a 5-minute free calling plan with 20-GB of data for ¥5,000 or less including tax, so these new plans would be in line with what the Suga administration has been asking.
NTT
KDDI and Softbank both have their eye on NTT Docomo. NTT is currently in the process of making Docomo (one of the big three wireless carriers) a wholly-owned subsidiary and apparently cannot announce price cuts until mid-November at the earliest.
Docomo also currently has the biggest market share among the three big carriers, with about 45 percent, which gives it more leeway to cut prices. This means that KDDI and Softbank could end up further cutting prices depending on how DoCoMo proceeds.
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Source: Nikkei newspaper, October 28, 2020 (in Japanese)
Lead photo: KDDI showroom in Nagoya, taken March 2012, via iStock