Rakuten Mobile Timeline
2014
October:
Rakuten Mobile launches as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO).
2018
January:
Rakuten Mobile Network, Inc. (now Rakuten Mobile, Inc.) is established.
April:
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications allocates 4G (1.7GHz band) frequency.
December:
Construction of mobile phone base stations begins.
2019
February:
Successful demonstration of the world's first end-to-end fully virtualized, cloud-native mobile network.*1
April:
Company name changed to Rakuten Mobile, Inc.
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications allocates 5G (3.7GHz band, 28GHz band) frequency.
October:
Rakuten Mobile launches services as a mobile network operator (MNO).
Commences "Free Supporter Program" trial service (targeting 5,000 subscribers).
2020
January
Launch of Rakuten Mobile's first original device, Rakuten Mini, the world’s smallest and lightest Felica-equipped smartphone.*2
March:
World Health Organization (WHO) declares COVID-19 a global pandemic.
April:
Rakuten Mobile full-scale commercial launch with “Rakuten UN-LIMIT 2.0” service plan.
June:
1 million subscribers surpassed.
September:
Launch of 5G services*3 with new plan, “Rakuten UN-LIMIT V.”
Release of new original 5G-compatible smartphone "Rakuten BIG," the world’s first Mobile FeliCa-equipped smartphone with a front camera embedded in the display.*4
November:
Zero Declaration announced, a commitment aimed at improving convenience and reducing the burden on customers.
December:
2 million subscribers surpassed.
Launch of "Rakuten Hand," the world’s slimmest smartphone by horizontal width*5.
2021
March:
3 million subscribers surpassed.
April:
Launch of "Rakuten UN-LIMIT VI," offering a single plan that flexibly adjusts to customers’ needs in Rakuten network areas.
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications allocates 5G (1.7GHz band) frequency (excluding Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka).
Launch of "Rakuten BIG s," an original 5G smartphone with a quad AI camera.
Start of iPhone sales.
2022
February:
Rakuten network area population coverage rate surpasses 96%*6, approximately 4 years ahead of schedule..
Launch of "Rakuten Hand 5G," the slimmest*7 original 5G smartphone.
March:
Number of Rakuten Mobile shops surpasses 1,000 nationwide.
July:
Launch of "Rakuten UN-LIMIT VII," a new plan with enhanced integration with Rakuten Group services.
2023
January:
Rakuten Mobile launches mobile services for business customers.
June:
New "Rakuten Saikyo Plan" with unlimited high-speed data usage*8 announced.
Rakuten Mobile’s 4G population coverage ratio surpasses 99%*9.
August:
5 million MNO subscribers surpassed*10.
October:
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications allocates 700 MHz “Platinum Band.”
December:
6 million MNO subscribers surpassed*11.
2024
June:
Launch of commercial services using the 700 MHz “Platinum Band.”
7 million MNO subscribers surpassed*12.
October:
8 million subscribers surpassed*13.
2025
February:
8.5 million subscribers surpassed*14.
April:
5th Anniversary of the full-scale commercial launch of the MNO service.
- *iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. iPhone is used under license by AIPHONE Co., Ltd.
- *1 For a large scale commercial mobile network (as of October 1, 2019). Research: Stella Associa
- *2 For mobile Felica equipped smartphones. As at July 2019, research by Rakuten. Smallest refers to the volume of the device.
- *3 For more information about the 5G service area, please see the following site: https://network.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/area/5g_area/ (*Japanese page)
- *4 For a Mobile FeliCa-equipped smartphone (as of September 28, 2020). Research: Stella Associa
- *5 For a Mobile FeliCa equipped smartphone with a display of 5 inches or larger (as of September 28, 2020). Research: Stella Associa
- *6 The population coverage ratio is calculated based on the number of the approximately 500m zones used in the national census in which communication is possible in more than 50% of the area covered.
- *7 For 5G compatible smartphone sold in Japan. Slimmest refers to the comparison of body width (as of November 25, 2021). Research: Stella Associa
- *8 To provide services fairly, restrictions on transmission speed may be implemented. Additionally, transmission speeds may slow depending on the environment in use at the time.
- *9 Includes both Rakuten network area and domestic roaming partner network area. Preliminary estimates for May 2023. Unlimited high-speed data in service areas nationwide will become available starting in June 2023. The population coverage ratio is calculated based on the number of the approximately 500m zones used in the national census in which communication is possible in more than 50% of the area covered.
- *10 Includes both Rakuten Saikyo Plan and Rakuten Mobile Business Plan subscribers (as of August 28, 2023).
- *11 Includes both Rakuten Saikyo Plan and Rakuten Mobile Business Plan subscribers and includes 130,000 BCP, the pricing plan for Business Continuity Plan purposes.
- *12 Includes Rakuten Saikyo Plan, Rakuten Saikyo Plan Business, Rakuten Turbo subscribers and Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (MVNE) service customers (approx. 200,000 lines) as of June 16, 2024. The number of subscribers does not include BCP customers.
- *13 Includes Rakuten Saikyo Plan, Rakuten Saikyo Plan Business, Rakuten Turbo, Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), and Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (MVNE) service customers as of October 18, 2024. Also includes BCP customers.
- *14 The 8.5 million subscribers number includes Rakuten Saikyo Plan, Rakuten Saikyo Plan Business, Rakuten Turbo, Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) and Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (MVNE) service customers as of February 27, 2025. The number of subscribers in this press release includes BCP customers. (BCP is the B2B pricing plan for Business Continuity Plan purposes.) The total number of subscribers, excluding BCP lines, for MNO and MVNE combined is 8.28 million. The number of MNO subscribers (excluding BCP, MVNO and MVNE) is 7.62 million.
- *Other product names and service names mentioned on this website are generally trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
- *In some cases, trademark symbols such as ™ or ® may be omitted in the trademark references on this website.