Rakuten Mobile chair and CEO Mickey Mikitani (pictured) argued improved network quality, following an expanded roaming deal and optimisation efforts, is driving user adoption and putting it in a position to charge a premium for higher quality service.
On its Q1 earnings call, Mikitani claimed “smooth progress” in turning around the group’s loss-making mobile unit, noting profitability is just around the corner, with a target of EBITDA turning positive by December 2024.
He noted it is now in the third phase of its launch, which is telling customers about its improved network quality. It is working to a target of 10 million subscribers by end-2025.
The operator’s revenue grew 7.1 per cent year-on-year to JPY62 billion ($396.3 million), with mobile service sales expanding 36 per cent to JPY36.1 billion. Its operating loss was JPY66 billion compared to JPY92 billion a year earlier.
Looking at the group’s broader mobile segment, which includes subsidiaries such as Rakuten Symphony, its operating loss dropped 30 per cent to JPY71.9 billion, while revenue increased 3.6 per cent to JPY99.8 billion. Symphony revenue jumped 55.3 per cent to $118 million.
In early April the operator said it added 1.5 million subscribers within a year, taking its total to 6.5 million at end-March.
ARPU was up marginally to JPY2,024. Mikitani noted it targets increasing that to JPY2,500 by charging more for a higher-quality service. He also highlighted that since the operator doesn’t do business on a standalone basis, the wider Rakuten ecosystem gives users access to value-added services and loyalty rewards, which can drive ARPU gains.
Capex in the first quarter dropped 47 per cent to JPY33 billion from a year earlier.
The operator is targeting commercial launch of service on the 700MHz band in June, which will help take population coverage to 99.9 per cent.
The post Rakuten Mobile chief hails network quality gains appeared first on Mobile World Live.
Commercials Cooperation Advertisements:
(1) IT Teacher IT Freelance
立刻註冊及報名電腦補習課程吧!
电子计算机 -教育 -IT 電腦班” ( IT電腦補習 ) 提供一個方便的电子计算机 教育平台, 為大家配對信息技术, 電腦 老師, IT freelance 和 programming expert. 讓大家方便地就能找到合適的電腦補習, 電腦班, 家教, 私人老師.
We are a education and information platform which you can find a IT private tutorial teacher or freelance.
Also we provide different information about information technology, Computer, programming, mobile, Android, apple, game, movie, anime, animation…
(2) ITSec
www.ITSeceu.uk
Secure Your Computers from Cyber Threats and mitigate risks with professional services to defend Hackers.
ITSec provide IT Security and Compliance Services, including IT Compliance Services, Risk Assessment, IT Audit, Security Assessment and Audit, ISO 27001 Consulting and Certification, GDPR Compliance Services, Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA), Penetration test, Ethical Hacking, Vulnerabilities scan, IT Consulting, Data Privacy Consulting, Data Protection Services, Information Security Consulting, Cyber Security Consulting, Network Security Audit, Security Awareness Training.
Contact us right away.
Email (Prefer using email to contact us):
SalesExecutive@ITSec.vip