Rakuten Mobile Accelerates Transition to Own Infrastructure After Split with KDDI

Rakuten Mobile has announced plans to terminate its roaming agreement with KDDI by mid-2026. During a financial briefing, the company confirmed that the primary phase of its transition to an independent infrastructure will conclude by the end of September 2026, despite KDDI's earlier decision to halt urban roaming services as early as October this year.

In response to KDDI's initiative, Rakuten Mobile is prioritizing the accelerated construction of its own base stations. The operator emphasizes that expanding its network will not only maintain but also enhance call quality for subscribers. Meanwhile, the two companies continue negotiations on potential limited-term cooperation—particularly to ensure coverage in rural and mountainous regions where deploying independent infrastructure remains impractical.

Current discussions focus on the terms of a new agreement, including duration and geographic scope of roaming. While Rakuten Mobile seeks to minimize dependence on its partner, it acknowledges the need for temporary solutions to maintain network stability in low-density regions. Final terms are expected to be finalized in the coming months.