Rakuten Mobile Tops MMD Labo Survey as Most Used Mobile Service Among Foreign Residents

Tokyo, April 15, 2025 – Rakuten Mobile, Inc. today announced it has been ranked first in the "Most Used Mobile Services Ranking Among Foreign Residents" category in a survey conducted by MMD Labo* on mobile services used by non-Japanese residents.

Rakuten Mobile stores have seen a significant increase in foreign subscribers, who now represent approximately 25% of all contracts, as a result of the mobile carrier’s initiatives specifically targeting foreign residents of Japan.

MMD Labo's survey shows that Rakuten Mobile's pricing plans and data capacity are attracting non-Japanese users, with 21.0% of surveyed foreign customers already subscribed to Japan’s newest and most modern mobile network. In addition, Rakuten Mobile received high marks in the ranking of mobile carriers considered for switching, with 25.2% of foreign residents considering signing up.

Notably, word-of-mouth referrals from acquaintances and colleagues are the primary driver of awareness for Rakuten Mobile, demonstrating a growing influence among users born abroad.

Number of contracts according to the Survey on Mobile Services Used by Foreign Residents

Rakuten Mobile is committed to provide a seamless experience for customers of all nationalities. Rakuten Mobile Stores offer comprehensive multilingual support, including assistance in English, Chinese, Nepali and other languages, as well as multilingual versions of key contract documents like Rakuten Saikyo Plan leaflets and important matters explanation documents.

To further enhance its multilingual support capabilities, Rakuten Mobile has implemented POCKETALK, an AI translator, in 162 stores. These support initiatives have resulted in an 8% increase in contracts with foreign residents at Rakuten Mobile stores compared to the previous year, now representing 25% of all contracts. Going forward, Rakuten Mobile plans to add languages other than Japanese and English to the display languages of the official Rakuten Mobile website in order to improve convenience for online contracts.

Additionally, Rakuten Mobile provides services and materials in easy-to-understand Japanese, including Rakuten Saikyo Plan flyers, direct mail and payment information, ensuring overseas customers less familiar with the language can easily manage their monthly payments and continue enjoying Rakuten Mobile's services.

Rakuten Mobile will continue working to deliver even more convenient services to all customers, regardless of their native language, and will continuously improve its service to better meet their diverse needs.

Official site
Rakuten Mobile official site

Overview of Survey on Mobile Services Used by Foreign Residents
Conducted by: MMD Labo Inc.
Survey method: Online survey
Survey period: February 21 - March 10, 2025
Number of respondents: 750 people *Weighted to reflect the composition of foreign residents by country
About survey respondents: Male and female foreign residents with mobile service contracts
*Foreign residents from Vietnam, Nepal, Indonesia, Myanmar and China
Number of questions: 12

Notes:
*Rakuten Mobile leads in contracts among foreign residents with 21.0%, followed by SoftBank at 15.6%. Key factors driving this preference include Rakuten Mobile's affordable pricing, attractive data plan and appealing promotional offers.
https://mmdlabo.jp/investigation/detail_2435.html

*POCKETALK is registered trademark of Sourcenext Corporation. Product names and service names published in this press release are generally trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Trademarks such as TM and ® may be omitted when trademarks are listed in this press release.