Business opportunities arising from MVNO deregulation
First written in FY2016. 11 of 12 entries say "Advanced", first in FY2017-Q1. Latest entry: FY2026.
No other company in this theme has enough history to compare yet.
- FY2026AdvancedAnnual report
「In June 2025, we became the first MVNO in Japan to receive an allocation of mobile telephone numbers, including 090 numbers, from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.」
As institutional progress toward interconnection of voice and SMS networks, the Company became the first MVNO in Japan to receive an allocation of mobile telephone numbers. - FY2024AdvancedAnnual report
「We reached an agreement with NTT DOCOMO on interconnection in February 2024.」
The Company’s request for voice-network interconnection, following the policy of assigning mobile telephone numbers to MVNOs, progressed to the agreement stage with NTT DOCOMO. - FY2022-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「The fact that the increase in cost of sales has been substantially restrained relative to the increase in revenue is attributable to our becoming able to procure both data communications and voice calls on a cost basis for the principal mobile network we use.」
The Company explains that voice calls, in addition to data communications, can now be procured on a cost basis, and that progress in the regulatory and procurement environment has been reflected in earnings. - FY2021-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「However, in November 2019, before reductions in mobile charges were adopted as a policy, we petitioned the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications for a ruling requiring wholesale voice charges to be cost-based, and on 30 June 2020 obtained a ministerial ruling accepting our position. (We subsequently reached an agreement with NTT DOCOMO on wholesale voice charges in February 2021.)」
The Company states that, following the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications’ ruling on cost-based wholesale voice charges, it reached a pricing agreement with NTT DOCOMO in February 2021. - FY2021-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「Following the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications’ ruling on 30 June 2020, the cost of voice calls procured by MVNOs from mobile operators is expected to be substantially reduced through the adoption of a cost-based pricing model.」
The Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications issued a ruling on wholesale voice-call costs, marking institutional progress toward cost-based pricing and a substantial reduction in costs. - FY2020AdvancedAnnual report
「Connection charges for data communications services procured by MNOs from MVNOs were previously calculated based on the MNOs’ historical “actual costs.” However, connection charges applicable from fiscal 2020 are calculated based on “forward-looking costs,” which reasonably forecast costs for the current fiscal year.」
The calculation method for data communications connection charges shifted to a forward-looking cost method from fiscal 2020, and the Company explains that the competitive environment between MNOs and MVNOs is gradually improving. - FY2020-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「This will make it easier for users to choose communications services suited to their needs from operators including MVNOs, not only MNOs. The reduction in switching barriers between MNOs and MVNOs and the resulting increase in user mobility are positive factors for MVNO operators over the medium to long term.」
The Company indicates that the amended Telecommunications Business Act, which took effect in October 2019, lowered switching barriers between MNOs and MVNOs by separating communications charges from device prices and setting a cap on cancellation fees. - FY2020-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「A major change occurred with the passage in May 2019 of amendments to the Telecommunications Business Act, which took effect on 1 October 2019. The amendments established basic rules to promote competition in the mobile market, including the complete separation of communications charges from device prices and the correction of fixed-term commitments arising from high cancellation fees. Ensuring a sound competitive environment through such rules is expected to support the long-term stability of the business base and is welcome for MVNO operators.」
The amended Telecommunications Business Act was passed in May 2019 and was scheduled to take effect on 1 October. The development of the competitive environment in the mobile market, including MVNOs, is taking concrete shape through the separation of communications charges from device prices and the correction of fixed-term commitments arising from high cancellation fees. - FY2018-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「However, amendments to radio regulations have made it possible to use LTE without a frequency licence, so we are accelerating preparations to launch the service.」
In addition to deregulation under the existing MVNO framework, the Company identifies the introduction of LTE without a frequency licence through amendments to radio regulations as a new business opportunity. - FY2017AdvancedAnnual report
「We had advocated this approach for many years since 2007, and the deregulation in May 2016 finally brought it to fruition.」
The Company positions deregulation not as a mere institutional change but as a turning point that enabled MVNOs themselves to reach the implementation stage for planning and developing new telecommunications services. - FY2017-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced a policy to further develop measures promoting MVNOs, namely the competitive environment between MNOs and MVNOs, through the amended Telecommunications Business Act and related legislation that took effect on 21 May 2016. Specifically, the policy expands both the scope of entities eligible to become MVNOs and the services MVNOs can provide.」
The deregulation is being specified in terms of mandatory Layer 2 interconnection to the au and SoftBank networks and the opening of HLR/HSS functions. - FY2016First statedAnnual report
「The latest legal amendments have enhanced the interconnection rules and created an environment in which services previously unavailable to MVNOs can be provided.」
The Company positions the legal amendments that took effect in May 2016 as the “Second Phase of MVNO Deregulation.”