KDDI has announced that it will launch its ultrafast 5G service in Japan on Thursday this week. The telecom is offering a monthly plan for ¥8,650 ($77) which will give customers unlimited 5G data.
However, if customers are savvy and combine a number of promotions, they can get the unlimited data plan for as low as ¥3,460 ($31) a month.
“We hope 5G use will be boosted in areas such as entertainment, arts, sports and amusement.”
Makoto Takahashi, KDDI.
KDDI plans to make its 5G services available in 15 prefectures by the end of March. Its service will then expand nationwide by the summer. These ambitious 5G plans will see 10,000 base stations installed by the end of March 2021 and another 10,000 by the end of March 2022.
“We made quite audacious price plans,” said KDDI President Makoto Takahashi during a teleconference. “We hope 5G use will be boosted in areas such as entertainment, arts, sports and amusement.”
“We hope to win over 2 million users by the end of fiscal 2020,” he said. And the services will run on “the advanced 5G and 4G hybrid network” he added.
Two-year plan
KDDI will also offer 5G plans that include Netflix video and Apple music streaming services. These will be part of a two-year plan which aims to allow consumers to enjoy 5G services at around the same price of 4G services.
KDDI will sell its plans on seven new models of 5G-enabled devices. These smartphones will include ones created by Samsung Electronics, Sony, Sharp, Oppo, Xiaomi and ZTE.
Japan will see three launches of 5G services this week as market leader Docomo last week announced a launch date of 25th March. SoftBank will commence service two days later, and KDDI on the 26th.
