business

Suga keen to see mobile phone fees in Japan cut by 40%

17 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© KYODO

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

17 Comments
Login to comment

I'm canceling my contact with au this month after 11 years coz screw those bills. With UQ Mobile I get unlimited five minutes phone calls and double the monthly data for more than half the price with au.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

This action from the government will be greatly appreciated.

Japanese households of two or more people spent on average around 122,500 yen in mobile phone fees in 2017

I have never seen any Japanese mobile bills in this high figure for just regular mobile use (calls) since unlimited plans launched so I guess they are talking about Mobile Data/4G charges which is true, carriers in Japan are charging too much for 4G/LTE data and looting users and government must intervene to stop it.

I have seen many Japanese use mobile data even at homes/indoors instead of broadband wifi and pay heavy fee to mobile carriers, though unlimited High speed Broadband internet is cheapest here.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Since Japanese don't complain, why not wait until October '19 (14 months to go!) for more competition.

Since Japenese pay without complain, why noy carry on as long as we can competition lock with dark agreement between the 3 main phone networks.

Hey life is easy for some businesses thanks to Abe !

(Example : my family in law)

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I have never seen any Japanese mobile bills in this high figure for just regular mobile use (calls) since unlimited plans launched so I guess they are talking about Mobile Data/4G charges which is true, carriers in Japan are charging too much for 4G/LTE data and looting users and government must intervene to stop it.

That is a yearly charge. Also you have to read between the lines here. That figure, comes down to about 6,000 yen per month, which also includes in many cases, the phone itself and any mobile charges too.

Few people put down 100,000 yen or more when getting a new phone, they pay for the phone over the life of the contract.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Finally Suga has said something I agree with. Interesting that he made the 40% claim, or is this cover for the big three so they can cut prices by 10% or 15% claiming that is the best they can do. But of course these cuts will not take effect for months or years, and they won't apply to anyone who already has a contract.While Japan's mobile fees are very high, I think Canadians are paying more as they have a similar monopoly style with their wireless carriers.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Since Japenese pay without complain, why noy carry on as long as we can competition lock with dark agreement between the 3 main phone networks.

There used to be a time when the market was only 2 companies, NTT and KDD and it wasnt all that long ago either. NTT was the only domestic carrier and KDD the international one.

ITJ and IDC were started as direct competitors to KDD for the international market and change started happening, along with the "invention" of the mobile phone and the changes started snowballing into what we have today.

The telecommunications industry through the government owned both as well, and when they were "privatized" the government held the majority of stock, and still does, in both.

There are other phone networks available, and the customer has to do some research. Softbank is a relative newcomer to the scene here in Japan, taking over from vodafone, who took over J-phone. Yet just about ALL of these companies, including the smaller carriers, like UQMobile use and pay access fees to NTT, because THEY own the hard lines and pay KDDI for international service, because they own the ocean cables/access and jointly own the satellites with NTT and the government.

Competition has been purposely held down, thus allowing the companies to keep the prices high and put limitations on services, like not allowing sim-free services, keeping phones locked, contracts lengths, etc.

The government as well is in the loop as any changes to these policies have to be ok'd by the ministry.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

One other point; look at the timing of this announcement.

This will affect the pocketbooks of just about every Japanese person, in a positive way. Suga is making this "timely" announcement when? Just before the LDP election, and while few will make the connection, as something that the Abe government can point to about helping the average consumer, to bolster his own support.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

The Japanese telcos are a blatant rip off with many ‘money for nothing’ fees incorporated into their bills. An itemized statement reveals all these unusual charges. It’s oretty easy to understand how these companies become so rich when they are charging fees for nothing.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I'm canceling my contact with au this month after 11 years coz screw those bills.

Congratulations on your graduation. Simfree with a MVNO. Best choice ever.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I'm also keen to see prices cut by 40% Suga-san!

But that would still be more expensive than the MVNO's which are typically 1/4 to 1/3 the price of the big 3 collaborated prices.

But, I think its funny that people here go to three different supermarkets to save 5 yen on a product they are buying, use point cards to save 1% etc... then happily pay 10,000yen a month to one of the big three providers, instead of doing some research and saving up to 8000yen per contract.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Good initiative, let's see how diluted it becomes after the Telcos push back.

Next, go after the ridiculuous roaming fees....

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I recently switched to Ymobile and regretted not doing it sooner. I pay 2590yen for 6bg!!!

At docomo i was paying 8000yen for 2GB plan + 2GB of extra data. The big three carriers are big joke. Waste of our money!!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

"We have to say that there is no competition" in the mobile phone business, Suga said.

There is. People just don't know about it. Get a mid range, sum free phone and iijmio. I pay 980 yen for 3GB a month. 1600 yen if I had a phone number.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Wouldn't a 40% cut in mobile phone fees go against the government's aim of 2% inflation? I suppose it's too much to expect any coherency from the LDP clowns.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Right darknuts.

Competition clearly exists but consumers are clearly apathetic.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

That is a yearly charge. Also you have to read between the lines here. That figure, comes down to about 6,000 yen per month, which also includes in many cases, the phone itself and any mobile charges too.

Few people put down 100,000 yen or more when getting a new phone, they pay for the phone over the life of the contract.

Those 6000 yen packages are comparable with the advanced countries in the EU.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites