Rakuten Mobile faces higher costs after KDDI roaming ends

Rakuten Mobile is facing higher 4G and 5G network costs after the end of its roaming agreement with KDDI in Japan, according to Light Reading.

KDDI's termination of its roaming agreement with Rakuten Mobile is reducing Rakuten's ability to rely on another operator's network in areas where its own coverage is incomplete. The change affects Rakuten's mobile service footprint in Japan and increases pressure on the operator to expand direct network coverage.

Light Reading reported that Rakuten must now plug holes in its network coverage at added expense. The article describes the impact on both 4G and 5G costs as Rakuten replaces roaming-based coverage with investment in its own infrastructure.

Rakuten Mobile and KDDI are both mobile network operators (MNOs, companies that run public mobile networks) in Japan. The reported cost increase is tied to the end of a commercial roaming arrangement rather than to eSIM-specific technology such as eUICC (embedded SIM hardware) or remote SIM provisioning.

Related questions

• Why did KDDI end its roaming agreement with Rakuten Mobile?
• How much will Rakuten Mobile's 4G and 5G costs increase?
• Which parts of Japan are most affected by Rakuten's coverage gaps?