Japan gov't orders KDDI to ensure no repeat of massive network outage

it will reduce individual bills by 200 yen ($1.50).

great! my guffaw for the day......

200JPY.so pathetic.truly japanese way.

Yeah right, "orders"! Until the next time!

Love the little "ceremony" that they had for the order. I guess they could not rely on KDDI's network to send it online. At least, they seem to have had a jolly time.

threats, promises, warnings with no ramifications... Welcome to Japan

Dame Dame!

Sumimasen!!................Izakaya later?

Okay!

Orders? Why not fine them?

So funny. I needed a laugh in this heat.

STOP the monopoly and give the people more choices, spread the risk and allow more competition.

Customers would be better off if they spent that 7 billion yen making their system more resilient.

Government edicts don't stop tech failures. And implementing roaming, although a good thing in theory, will add complexity to the system. The more complex a system is, the easier it will break. Better to implement it from the ground up on any Next-G system, working from a clean slate.

Outages like this have happened in the UK and Canada, and will continue to happen, just as computers fail. You have backed up your data recently, dear reader, haven't you?

It will cost more than ¥200 to administer the refund!

Mark

STOP the monopoly and give the people more choices, spread the risk and allow more competition.

Monopoly? But, aren't there already THREE major direct network operators, with a 4th, Rakuten, slowly catching up.

Plus, their sub-brands (UQ, Y!mobile/LineMO, Ahamo) and MVNO's (IIJmio, Mineo, Line Mobile, Nuro, Biglobe, OCN, Aeon, etc).

So, no, there is no monopoly. But, there is a lack of industry regulation and enforcement of existing regulations. But, that is true across almost all industries in Japan. (and most Capitalist nations.)

@Mark: It's a not a Monopoly with 3 real carriers plus Rakuten building a network (slowly)

How many does the US have for example with a larger population? I believe its just 4 now. AT&T , Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint.

I thought it is a joke when I heard that the compensation will be 200YEN.

BUT THIS THING IS REAL!

I would change the carrier right away.

"KDDI said Friday it will pay damages to 36.55 million customers, including those contracted to its group company, as a form of "apology," saying it will reduce individual bills by 200 yen ($1.50)."

Boom! I told you! I think I said EXACTLY 200 yen. haha. I may have said ¥500 in one case when we saw it was more serious.

Anyway, I can think of a few ways the government could ensure it doesn't happen again, but since they are taking the usual route of "We'll give you a stern look and suggestion, you do the rest!" we just have to wait until it happens again soon. How about for starters, a month FREE for every user, plus more for those who can prove they were severely affected by it? Then, fine them several billion yen. After that, cut some business services with them, making it clear they are going with a rival as a result of what happened, but will keep the rest of the services with KDDI for the time being barring any further trouble.

Nah... that might ACTUALLY ensure they have to change things.

Just stick to DoCoMo is the answer. Been with them since 1996. Never had a problem or dispute with them. Pay for what you get.

The ministry also demanded KDDI share with other mobile carriers why such a failure occurred

How do you share about having incompetence?

KDDI needs to upgrade its hardware when customer numbers increase.

¥200 for 80 hours of no phone = ¥2.5/hour.

@wallace. KDDI will not be seeing an increase in numbers. More a migration away at a guess.

Here is the most recent Open Signal Mobile Network Experience Report for Japan:

https://www.opensignal.com/reports/2022/04/japan/mobile-network-experience

AU consistently lands in the bottom of the pack of the four network operators in every category. (KDDI is the parent of AU and their budget brand UQ)

theResident

@wallace. KDDI will not be seeing an increase in numbers. More a migration away at a guess.

You are probably not correct and also the reason for the hardware failure was an increase in customer numbers from their low-price service POVO.

All three major carriers have new low-price services.

But it means fewer profits than before.

My monthly bill from AU went down from about ¥6,000 to ¥3,700 with POVO and 20GB.

Changing carriers, especially those with tied-in phones is a major hassle and most will stay.

What's with all the minus votes?

Used KDDI/AU since the beginning of 2000 and this was my first service problem.

calling bids on how long it takes until a new network outage happens

Caption:

Ginza Friday night?

The new low-cost services.

Docomo Ahamo

Au Povo

Softbank Linemo

https://blog.gaijinpot.com/linemo-ahamo-povo-or-rakuten-un-limit-which-new-phone-plan-is-right-for-you/

theResident

why are you not using Ahamo?

https://ahamo.com/plan/

I don’t use the major carriers. I just use a sim service that piggybacks off the major carrier’s networks. Unlimited data service for less than 6,000 yen a month.

@wallace: Not enough data (I use a lot) Loss of phone support.

@Gaijinland : Yes, but you DO use a major carrier technically. And you are the first to suffer network slow down when usage is heavy. Two of us on 5G Docomo, unlimited data paying 750 yen more each than you . Granted I have a long term user discount.

theResident

@wallace: Not enough data (I use a lot) Loss of phone support.

With the DoCoMo Ahamo, you can have 100GB data and phone support.

Free data roaming in 82 countries (up to 15 days)

Up to 20 GB of data overseas at no extra cost.

100GB ¥4,950

why would you need more than 100GB data/month.

For one month I used data only all day every day. 10GB but I didn't watch videos.

NTT DOCOMO's Mobile Network Down Temporarily due to Heavy Rain since August 3, 2022 (as of 10:30 a.m. August 4, 2022)

I personally used 145 GB last month on my mobile phone - and 1020 GB at home to answer your question.

The ¥200 should include inconvenience and inconvenience. You sign a contract for service. Japan has many disasters.

theResident

I'm interested. How much does 145GB per month cost compared with Ahamo?

No idea - me and the missus are both on unlimited data and free phone calls to other DoCoMo users and my bill is 16,200 a month. Never changes - I'm quite happy with that for consistent service. I can't find any info that Ahamo now offers phone support and I don't want to have to do everything on the Internet.

Come NBA playoff time, I will use 200+ a month for April and May for sure.

theResident

I see phone support you mean for DoCoMo services. Yes, new low-cost services are via the internet or an app on my phone, POVO. I use the app but there are never any problems.

Even all the major carriers are seeking to reduce their costs and reduce services like having to make a booking for support instead of just phoning up.

Otherwise, I think your monthly bill with Ahamo would be a third less.

Probably would - But if you go through the fine print (as we have) - you do lose a lot of convenience. I'm happy to continue with my full service.

Very generous of them to give some cash back. And they are going to ENSURE it never happens again.

and @wallace - wheres I do find the barb about the DoCoNo network being down to heavy rain - it was in 3 small towns and 1 small city in affected areas. Its hardly an entire network failure.

"Best Effort" service. If you need premium service, that costs more.