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Japan - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

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    Report

  • 161 Pages
  • July 2021
  • Region: Japan
  • Paul Budde Communication Pty Ltd
  • ID: 4832643

Japan Edges Closer Towards a 5G Launch in 2020

Japan's 2021 tax reform aimed at encouraging digital transformation

Although Japan has one of the best developed telecom markets globally, the fixed-line segment remains stagnant and the focus for growth is in the mobile sector During the last few years, the MNOs have shifted their investment from LTE to 5G, and growth in 5G showed early promise although there have been recent setbacks. These have partly been attributed to the economic difficulties, the impact of restrictions imposed during the pandemic, and unfavourable investment climate (not helped by the delay of the Tokyo Olympics from 2020 to 2021), and to restrictions in the supply of 5G-enabled devices.

The fixed broadband market is dominated by fibre, with a strong cable platform also evident. Fibre will continue to increase its share of the fixed broadband market, largely at the expense of DSL.

The mobile market is dominated by three MNOs (NTT DoCoMo, KDDI, and SoftBank Mobile), while Rakuten Mobile also has a presence. The company is building out its network, and while it is focussed of providing 5G services in the major metro areas it relies on roaming agreements to offer services elsewhere.

Mobile broadband subscriber growth is expected to be relatively low over the next five years, partly due to the high existing penetration though growth has been stimulated by measures which have encouraged people to school and work from home. There has also been a boost in accessing entertainment via mobile devices since 2020.

The publisher notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. The telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure.

Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key Developments

  • Tax reform aimed at funding rural 5G networks;
  • NTT DoCoMo becomes wholly owned by NTT Corp, plans to provide 55% population coverage with 5G by March 2022 and nationwide 5G coverage by 2023;
  • FttP continues to gain market share in fixed broadband segment as DSL is phased out;
  • Report update includes telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, telcos operating and financial data to Q1 2021, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.

Key companies mentioned in this report:

NTT; KDDI; SoftBank Mobile, Internet Initiative Japan, eAccess, eMobile, Rakuten, IIJ; JCI; Line Mobile

Table of Contents

Key statisticsRegional Asian Market Comparison
Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector
  • Economic considerations and responses
  • Subscribers
  • Infrastructure

Telecommunications market
  • Market overview and analysis

Regulatory environment
  • Regulatory authority
  • Fixed-line developments
  • Mobile network developments

Mobile market
  • Mobile statistics
  • Mobile infrastructure
  • Major mobile operators

Fixed-line broadband market
  • Market overview and analysis
  • Fixed broadband statistics
  • Fixed broadband technologies
  • Fixed broadband providers

Fixed network operators
  • NTT Corporation
  • KDDI Corporation
  • SoftBank Corporation
  • Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ)

Telecommunications infrastructure
  • Overview of the national telecom network
  • NTT NGN
  • Submarine cables
  • Satellite
  • Data centres
  • Smart infrastructure

Glossary of abbreviationsRelated reports
List of Tables
Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities 2021 (e)
Table 2 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Table 3 Growth in the number of LTE subscribers 2014-2020
Table 4 Development of mobile revenue and capex (¥ billion) 2016-2018
Table 5 Development of Rakuten Mobile's financial data (¥ million) 2018-2021
Table 6 Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Table 7 Mobile subscribers in Japan by operator (million) 2010-2021
Table 8 Market share of mobile subscribers by operators 2013-2020
Table 9 Development of NTT DoCoMo's financial data (¥ billion) 2010-2021
Table 10 Change in NTT DoCoMo's ARPU by type (¥) 2017-2021
Table 11 Change in the number of NTT DoCoMo's mobile subscribers by type (million) 2011-2021
Table 12 Change in KDDI's mobile ARPU and churn rate 2019-2021
Table 13 Growth in the number of KDDI's mobile subscribers 2011-2021
Table 14 Change in the number of SoftBank subscriber by segment (million) 2011-2021
Table 15 Development of SoftBank's financial data (¥ billion) 2011-2021
Table 16 Change in SoftBank's mobile ARPU and churn 2010-2020
Table 17 IIJ financial data (¥ billion) 2010-2021
Table 18 Growth in the number of IIJ MVNO's subscribers 2014-2021
Table 19 Change in the number of IIJ's consumer and enterprise internet subscribers 2009-2021
Table 20 Development of JCI's financial data (¥ billion) 2010-2021
Table 21 Development of Line Mobile's financial data (¥ billion) 2015-2020
Table 22 Growth in the number of Line Mobile's subscribers 2014-2020
Table 23 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Table 24 Fixed broadband subscribers by access type 2011-2020
Table 25 Growth in the number of internet users and penetration 2011-2019
Table 26 Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2020
Table 27 NTT's fixed broadband subscribers by segment (million) 2015-2021
Table 28 KDDI's DSL and FttP subscribers 2011-2021
Table 29 NTT Corp's major shareholders
Table 30 Development of NTT Corp's financial data (¥ billion) 2011-2021
Table 31 Change in the number of NTT Corp's fixed-line subscribers by service (million) 2015-2021
Table 32 Development of KDDI's financial data (¥ billion) 2011-2021
Table 33 Change in KDDI's capex by sector (¥ billion) 2011-2021
Table 34 Decline in the number of fixed lines and teledensity 2011-2026
Table 35 Fixed-line subscribers by type (thousand) 2013-2020
Table 36 Total international internet bandwidth 2011-2017
Table 37 Historic - Carrier share of mobile telephone and PHS market 2004-2011
Table 38 Historic - NTT DoCoMo ARPU and churn 2004-2017
Table 39 Historic - NTT DoCoMo revenue, net income, capex and EBITDA 2005-2010
Table 40 Historic - KDDI - ARPU and churn 2001-2017
Table 41 Historic - SoftBank financial data 1995-2010
Table 42 Historic - SoftBank mobile ARPU and churn 2004-2010
Table 43 Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers by access type 1998-2010
Table 44 Historic - Fixed broadband subscriber annual change / market share by access type 2001-2015
Table 45 Historic - NTT Broadband subscribers and market share by segment 2004-2018
Table 46 Historic - Japan FttH subscribers by operator and market share 2017
Table 47 Historic - Japan FttH subscribers and penetration 2002-2010
Table 48 Historic KDDI's DSL and FttP subscribers 2005-2010
Table 49 Historic - NTT financial data 2000-2010
Table 50 Historic - NTT video service subscribers 2009-2017
Table 51 Historic - KDDI financial data 2001-2010
Table 52 Historic - KDDI total capital expenditure on mobile and fixed line (¥ billion) 2005-2010
Table 53 Historic - IIJ revenue and net income (¥ million) 2006-2010
Table 54 Historic - Fixed line - Subscribers and penetration 1993-2010
Table 55 Historic - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2007-2010
Table 56 Historic - KDDI mobile subscribers 2004-2010
Table 57 Historic - SoftBank subscribers (millions) by segment 2007-2010
Table 58 Historic - Internet Users and Penetration 2007-2010
Table 59 Historic - Total international internet bandwidth 2007-2010
List of Charts
Chart 1 Asian Telecoms Maturity Index by Market Category
Chart 2 Asian Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 3 Telecoms Maturity Index Northern Asia
Chart 4 North Asia - fixed and mobile broadband penetration rates
Chart 5 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Chart 6 Growth in the number of LTE subscribers 2014-2020
Chart 7 Development of mobile revenue and capex 2016-2018
Chart 8 Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Chart 9 Mobile subscribers in Japan by operator 2010-2021
Chart 10 Market share of mobile subscribers by operators 2013-2020
Chart 11 Development of NTT DoCoMo's financial data 2010-2021
Chart 12 Change in NTT DoCoMo's ARPU by type (¥) 2017-2021
Chart 13 Change in the number of NTT DoCoMo's mobile subscribers by type 2011-2021
Chart 14 Growth in the number of KDDI's mobile subscribers 2011-2021
Chart 15 Change in the number of SoftBank subscriber by segment (million) 2011-2021
Chart 16 Development of SoftBank's financial data 2011-2021
Chart 17 IIJ financial data 2010-2021
Chart 18 Growth in the number of IIJ MVNO's subscribers 2014-2021
Chart 19 Change in the number of IIJ's consumer and enterprise internet subscribers 2009-2021
Chart 20 Development of JCI's financial data 2010-2021
Chart 21 Line mobile financial data 2015-2020
Chart 22 Growth in the number of Line Mobile's subscribers 2014-2020
Chart 23 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Chart 24 Fixed broadband subscribers by access type 2013-2020
Chart 25 Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2020
Chart 26 NTT's fixed broadband subscribers by segment 2015-2021
Chart 27 KDDI's DSL and FttP subscribers 2011-2021
Chart 28 Development of NTT Corp's financial data (¥ billion) 2011-2021
Chart 29 Change in the number of NTT Corp's fixed-line subscribers by service (million) 2015-2021
Chart 30 Development of KDDI's financial data 2011-2021
Chart 31 Change in KDDI's capex by sector (¥ billion) 2011-2021
Chart 32 Decline in the number of fixed lines and teledensity 2011-2026
Chart 33 Fixed-line subscribers by type 2013-2020
List of Exhibits
Exhibit 1 Key Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 2 Northern Asia - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country
Exhibit 3 NTT DoCoMo's investment in international operators
Exhibit 4 NTT Group structure
Exhibit 5 SoftBank operations
Exhibit 6 Major global/regional submarine cables with landing point in Japan

Companies Mentioned

  • NTT
  • KDDI
  • SoftBank Mobile
  • Internet Initiative Japan
  • eAccess
  • eMobile
  • Rakuten
  • IIJ
  • JCI
  • Line Mobile