SoftBank has reached the 20-year milestone since launching its mobile phone business. While it gained momentum through innovation in its early years, it has shown a notably defensive stance in recent years. Founder Masayoshi Son (孫正義)'s focus is said to be shifting from telecommunications to AI.
SoftBank reached the 20-year milestone since launching its mobile phone business in October. A Nikkei article reported on the company's 20-year history through a briefing.
The company is said to have gained momentum in its early years by introducing innovative handsets and pricing plans while also developing its telecommunications network. It continues to build the foundation of its mobile business.
However, the company has been criticised in recent years for showing a defensive stance. Its future direction is described as involving founder Masayoshi Son (孫正義)'s focus shifting from telecommunications to artificial intelligence (AI).
The briefing conveyed the message that the past 20 years had been a continued effort to make connections possible, and also touched on the company's policy for future initiatives.