Rakuten Mobile Expands 5G (Sub6) Coverage in Kyushu/Okinawa, Shikoku and Chugoku Regions by up to 100%
Tokyo, July 31, 2025 – Rakuten Mobile, Japan’s newest and most modern mobile network, today announced it has expanded its 5G (Sub6) network coverage area in parts of the Kyushu/Okinawa, Shikoku and Chugoku regions by up to 100% compared to December 2024, as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to improve network quality*1.
Starting in January 2025, Rakuten Mobile has increased radio capacity*2 for its 5G (Sub6) base stations in areas of the Kyushu/Okinawa, Shikoku and Chugoku regions. This has resulted in 5G network coverage gains of approximately 100% in Okinawa Prefecture and 40% in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Other target areas achieved 5G coverage increases of up to 10%*3.
Expansion of Rakuten 5G (Sub6) network coverage in Okinawa and Fukuoka Prefectures
Rakuten Mobile has also strengthened indoor coverage in large commercial facilities and enhanced the use of infrastructure sharing at stadiums in the targeted regions where 5G (Sub6) coverage has been expanded. Specifically, measures aimed at improving network quality were implemented at locations such as Konoha Mall in Fukuoka City, Egao Kenko Stadium in Kumamoto City, and minamoa/Hotel Granvia Horishima South Gate in Hiroshima City.
Following the relaxation of measures preventing interference between mobile wireless networks and satellite communications in shared bandwidth frequencies, Rakuten Mobile has also been expanding coverage and improving network quality in the Kanto (which includes Tokyo), Tokai (which includes Nagoya) and Kansai (which includes Osaka) regions by increasing the radio transmission output of existing base stations. Additionally, the company has been optimizing base station parameters to enable smoother transitions between 4G and 5G.
Rakuten Mobile is committed to further enhancing its nationwide mobile network quality so that customers can enjoy best-in-class mobile services anywhere in Japan.
Notes
*1 Kyushu region (Fukuoka Prefecture, Saga Prefecture, Kumamoto Prefecture, Oita Prefecture, Kagoshima Prefecture), Okinawa Prefecture (entire prefecture of Okinawa including Okinawa Main Island, Yaeyama Islands, Miyako Islands), Shikoku region (Ehime Prefecture), Chugoku region (Hiroshima Prefecture, Yamaguchi Prefecture)
*2 Related press release: Rakuten Mobile Expands 5G (Sub6) Coverage in Kanto Region by 110%, Significantly Surpassing 60% Plan
https://corp.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/english/news/press/2024/1127_01/
*3 Area expansion completed for Okinawa Prefecture by end of March 2025, and for target regions in Kyushu, Shikoku and Chugoku regions by end of June 2025.
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