Web 3.0 and AI trends of major mobile carriers such as Docomo, KDDI and Softbank and emerging forces.

Web 3.0 and AI are attracting attention as the latest technologies and the arena for new business competition, and mobile carriers, which have been engaged in fierce competition to date, are beginning to move into this area.

Which companies will be the ones to carve out a blue ocean in the new age of business?

Business and market share of the four mobile carriers

▶▶ NTT DoCoMo

Market share: 36.1%.

No.1 in terms of mobile phone subscriptions! Strong in the financial and payment fields.

Since its establishment in 1991, NTT DOCOMO has built a strong position over the years as the centre of the mobile communications business, including mobile and car phones, and still reigns as the king of mobile carrier companies. Recently, the company has been focusing not only on the telecommunications business, but also on the financial and settlement area and marketing solutions, which it has positioned as its ‘smart life business’.

▶▶ KDDI Group

Market share: 27.0%.

Promoting business transformation with 5G at its core

The KDDI Group, which has the No.2 mobile phone market share, has a medium-term management plan to become a ‘Platformer supporting society’ by 2030, with 5G at the core of its business transformation, aiming to become a company that can provide added value in every industry and aspect of life.

▶▶ Softbank Group

Market share: 20.9%.

Developing financial and ICT businesses as well as telecommunications business

Generally known as a mobile carrier, but also invests in and develops a wide range of other businesses, including sports, finance and ICT. Its strength is that it has many services within the group, including PayPay, which has the top market share in the payment domain. As it is actively developing new businesses, it is expected to continue to play an active role in areas other than the telecommunications business.

▶▶ Rakuten Group

2.2% market share

Struggling in mobile business, awaiting a turnaround

Despite entering the mobile business as the fourth carrier, the company has been in the red for five consecutive years. Although it is ahead of its competitors in terms of prices, the bottleneck seems to be that it has not been able to acquire enough subscribers to turn a profit. The losses in the mobile business are dragging down the group as a whole, so a turnaround is a must.

*Refer to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' “Trends in the telecommunications market” for share rates.