Japan’s telecommunications industry has made impressive strides towards achieving near-universal 5G coverage. New data reveals significant progress, even as challenges persist. Insights from Ookla indicate that four national operators are following unique strategies concerning speed, coverage, and 5G deployment.
Recent Speedtest Intelligence data highlights SoftBank as the leader in median download speeds across all network types, clocking at 62.05 Mbps. This places it ahead of KDDI’s au network, with median speeds of 57.85 Mbps. Meanwhile, Rakuten Mobile and NTT DOCOMO trail slightly with 53.54 Mbps and 50.50 Mbps, respectively. SoftBank’s focus on network speed enhancements is apparent, although it does not necessarily equate to widespread 5G access.
Rakuten Mobile outpaces others in 5G speed, with median download rates of 128.39 Mbps and upload speeds of 22.34 Mbps. SoftBank follows closely behind. These figures underscore the strategic emphasis on lightning-fast 5G services in areas dense with user demand.
Despite Japan’s high cellular penetration rate of 157%, there remains a discrepancy between 5G coverage and actual usage. Currently, 5G population coverage stands at 98.4%, while 5G availability varies significantly. NTT DOCOMO boasts the highest figure, with a 38.4% 5G Availability, contrasting with SoftBank’s 26.5%. The disparity illustrates operators’ strategy of investing primarily in urban centers while relying on 4G in less populated regions.
Geography plays a significant role in 5G distribution across Japan’s prefectures. Cities like Osaka lead with 35.2% availability, while Yamanashi lags at 9.1%. Operators prioritize populous and economically active areas due to the higher returns on infrastructure investment, leaving rural regions underserved.
Interestingly, availability doesn’t always mean slower speeds. For example, Yamagata, despite lower 5G availability, features the fastest median speed of 181 Mbps. This phenomenon is due to less network congestion, resulting in better performance for fewer users.
The 10th percentile 5G download speeds offer insight into network performance for the slowest users. NTT DOCOMO fared consistently well, ensuring minimum speeds were robust across prefectures. SoftBank scored the highest in certain areas but exhibited sharp declines in others.
Finally, consistency in 5G experience is closely tied to speed reliability. High-performing areas like Hokkaido and Tōhoku reflected steady usage, vital for activities like video streaming. This consistency diminishes in rural or geographically challenging locations, where infrastructural difficulties persist.
Japan’s progress toward near-universal 5G coverage is commendable. Yet, addressing the uneven quality of service remains a priority. Robust investment and focused strategies in less accessible regions will be crucial for balanced nationwide access.
