In this report, ROA Group identified ten most noticeable topics of Japanese mobile communication market, which is leading mobile convergence in the world. For that, ROA Group analyzed the emerging trends in policies, players, technologies and services. As the leader of the mobile industry, Japanese market will serve as an indicator to help all mobile service providers and related companies around the world to predict future directions of the industry.

According to ROA Group, Japanese telecommunication market, which has been dominated by three big mobile carriers, will be characterized by cut-throat market competition and active convergence between different industries in 2006. The launches of MNP (Mobile Number Portability) scheduled in November 2006 and 1seg broadcasting (mobile terrestrial broadcasting), scheduled in April 2006 are substantial enough to forecast the above mentioned issues in the market.

More importantly, the vertically integrated Japanese mobile market and its three way competition landscape will be restructured. Japanese market has always been the center of convergence. Facing fiercer competition and broadened spectrum of services, the market will experience even faster convergence with other industries.

2. 10 Topics in Japanese Mobile Communication Market

2-1. Framework for Selecting 10 Topics

First, to find out changing factors, we conducted market research in four areas; trend of mobile telecommunication technologies, movement of government policies and regulations, strategies taken by incumbent carriers and new entrants, and evolution of services and applications.

Second, based on the research results, ROA Group identified direction of Japanese mobile communication market in 2006 and selected 10 topics which well represent new trends. According to our analysis, the Japanese mobile market will be marked by two prominent changes, intensified competition and development of converged services. Under this conclusion, we selected five topics for each.

Third, for the third phase of our report, we analyzed each topic. We looked at the backgrounds and key points of each topic, its impact on the market in 2006 and its implication.

Changes of Japan?s Mobile Communication Market and Growing Competition

We have identified five topics that cause fierce competition in the Japanese mobile market. Those five topics include introduction of MNP, entrance of new service providers, active MVNO businesses, changes in voice price plan, and the expansion of corporate customer market.

The Evolution of Services brought by Convergence

The five topics this report selected are mobile terrestrial broadcasting, FeliCa businesses, mobile portals, fixed wireless communications, and FMC.