Tag - rakuten-mobile

 
 

RAKUTEN MOBILE

The exact timing of the roll out of Rakuten Mobile's commercial satellite-to-mobile service is uncertain, but the plans for coverage encompass mountainous and remote areas across Japan.
BUSINESS / Tech
Feb 16, 2024
Rakuten plans satellite mobile service across Japan in 2026
The service, to be rolled out in partnership with AST SpaceMobile, will be directly accessible by regular smartphones and won’t require a terminal.
Rakuten Group has incurred a net loss for the fifth straight year.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 15, 2024
Rakuten logs second-largest annual net loss
The firm will skip a dividend payment for the first time in 23 years to prioritize its financial stability.
A Rakuten Mobile branch in Tokyo. Rakuten is set for another tough year in 2024, at a time when rivals are on the attack with competitive pricing and reward campaigns.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 29, 2023
Rakuten's mobile misadventure: from ambitious plan to millstone
Founder and CEO Hiroshi Mikitani's vision of a low-cost network using cloud-based software and cheap hardware did not pan out.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 12, 2023
Two Japan firms to join hands with Britain in new network technology
NTT Docomo and Rakuten Mobile are expected to join with British entities to promote development of the Open RAN communications network to counter China.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 9, 2022
Former SoftBank worker gets suspended sentence over info leakage
The Tokyo District Court convicted Kuniaki Aiba, who had worked at SoftBank Group's mobile phone service subsidiary but moved to Rakuten.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 29, 2021
Rakuten cuts mobile fees for light users to maintain edge over bigger rivals
The firm now says it will lower the cost depending on the amount of data used within the space of a month, saying the fee will even be free for particularly light users.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jan 12, 2021
Rakuten worker arrested for alleged SoftBank 5G secrets leak
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department on Tuesday arrested Kuniaki Aiba, 45, on suspicion of leaking secret information in breach of unfair competition prevention law.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Oct 1, 2020
Japan's mobile phone carriers brace for further intervention by Suga
Even before becoming prime minister, Suga had intervened in the cell phone market in an attempt to lower fees.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 30, 2020
Rakuten rolls out ultrafast 5G service with bold price plan
The move could give the mobile carrier a competitive edge and fuel momentum toward cheaper phone fees.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 2, 2020
Rakuten Mobile to woo Japan's heavy data users with half-price plans
Rakuten Inc.'s mobile phone unit will charge less than half the fees its rivals do for high data usage, hoping to entice subscribers when it launches services next month as Japan's fourth entrant to the market, sources close to the matter said Monday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 16, 2019
Ministry urges Rakuten Mobile to speed up preparation of base stations ahead of Japan rollout
The communications ministry has instructed Rakuten Mobile Inc. to speed up its rollout of base stations, with the mobile operator slated to launch its service in Japan on Oct. 1, it was learned on Thursday.

Longform

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.
The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores