"Japan Telecommunications Report Q3 2014" Published

Japan's telecommunications market is saturated with an above 100% mobile penetration with close to 94% of the mobile subscriptions on 3G or 4G services in 2013. The main driver of the saturated market is expected to be in the 4G and big data services, both of which are crucial to operators to help offset the loss of voice and SMS revenues to free messaging service LINE. According to data provided by the regulator the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), LTE subscriptions grew at 119% in 2013, while 3G subscriptions show modest decline of 2.4% over the same period. This is evident of 4G services starting to substitute 3G subscriptions.

Full Report Details at
- http://www.fastmr.com/prod/841281_japan_telecommunications_report_q3_2014.aspx?afid=302

Key Data

* Mobile subscriptions have continued to increase, reaching 145.237mn by the end of 2013. BMI forecasts the mobile market will have 158,654 subscriptions by 2018.
* LTE subscription growth has accelerated and is beginning to substitute 3G services, which are in decline as a result. MIC latest data in 2013 illustrates a 2.4% decline in 3G services while LTE subscriptions grew by 119%. =
* ARPU levels will likely continue trending down due to an increase in smartphone ownership, which poses a threat to traditional service revenues through IP substitution for voice and SMS. While data ARPU is increasing, it is not enough to stop the overall decline, with market average blended ARPU down 5.0% in 2013.

Key Trends And Developments

Japanese operators have placed their bets on 4G market, with all three reporting higher 4G capex in 2014. NTT DoCoMo revealed it intends to spend over USD3.8bn to increase LTE coverage and improve existing connectivity speed for areas still under the slower 3G technology. KDDI, another operator, intends to boost its tower portfolio by another 60% in 2014. Softbank has also commented it will ensure its 4G services remain competitive with its rivals by undertaking similar investments.

In May 2014, Softbank Corp's subsidiary Yahoo! Japan cancelled its plan to...

The Japan Telecommunications Report features Business Monitor International (BMI)'s independent industry forecasts on the future strength of Japan's ICT market, covering the fixed-line, mobile and internet segments and analyses latest regulatory developments and corporate news, including investment activity, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships. Leading operators and manufacturers are fully profiled, highlighting their quarterly financial performance, capital expenditure plans and latest contracts.

BMI's Japan Telecommunications Report provides industry professionals and researchers, operators, equipment suppliers and vendors, corporate and financial services analysts and regulatory bodies with independent forecasts and competitive intelligence on the telecoms industry in Japan.

Key Benefits

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