Rakuten Mobile to reduce KDDI roaming from October 2026

TL;DR: Rakuten Mobile said it will reduce roaming on KDDI’s network from October 2026 as it expands its own mobile coverage in Japan. Rakuten Mobile said it will keep using KDDI roaming in areas where it needs more time to build out coverage.

Rakuten Mobile said it will reduce roaming on KDDI’s network from October 2026 as its own network expansion progresses in Japan. The company said it will continue using KDDI’s network in areas where it still needs more time to build coverage.

The change affects Rakuten Mobile’s domestic roaming arrangement with KDDI in Japan. Rakuten Mobile said roaming will be scaled back in areas where its own network is already available, while KDDI roaming will remain in places where Rakuten Mobile has not yet completed coverage build-out.

RCR Wireless reported the update on August 13, 2026, citing Rakuten Mobile’s plan to shift more traffic onto its own network as coverage expands. The source description did not provide further details on affected regions, subscriber numbers, or the scale of the roaming reduction.

Related questions

• When will Rakuten Mobile reduce roaming on KDDI’s network?
• Why will Rakuten Mobile continue using KDDI roaming in some areas?
• Which country is affected by the Rakuten Mobile and KDDI roaming change?