Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten Inc said it will offer a cut-rate smartphone service for about a third of the monthly fees charged by the country’s three dominant operators, adding to increasing price competition in the sector.
Japan’s smartphone services for light users are particularly expensive compared with other developed markets, prompting Rakuten and other firms such as retail giant Aeon and Internet Initiative Japan to offer new services by pairing with or becoming mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs).
Rakuten’s new MVNO service will offer a combined voice and basic data plan for an average monthly fee of JPY2,200 (USD20), excluding the cost of the phone.
(Source: The Malaysian Insider)