KDDI announced its policy of ending its current roaming agreement with Rakuten Mobile at the end of September. From October, it will stop providing the service in urban areas, while continuing it for a certain period in some rural areas where Rakuten's base-station construction is behind schedule.
KDDI President Matsuda Hiroji (松田浩路) announced the company's policy of ending at the end of September the roaming agreement for the mobile communications network it provides to Rakuten Mobile. This formally established the timing for the end of the current roaming agreement.
After the agreement ends, roaming service in urban areas will be discontinued from October. Meanwhile, the service is expected to continue for a certain period in some rural areas, primarily those where disruptions would arise because Rakuten's base-station construction is behind schedule.
The move is seen as part of an effort to reorganize the network partnership in line with Rakuten's plans to expand its network, with arrangements for continuing service in rural areas expected to be a focus going forward.