Japan mobile fees crack as KDDI weighs no-cost switches to budget plan

Government puts pressure on carriers for discounts customers can feel

Users of KDDI's main au brand may be able to switch to the company's budget brand without paying steep fees.

AKIHIRO OTA, Nikkei staff writer

December 2, 2020 03:47 JST

TOKYO -- As Japan's government takes a tougher line on telecom price competition, wireless carrier KDDI has begun looking to eliminate fees for subscribers switching to its budget brand.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has been a vocal advocate for lower mobile rates. Under such pressure, market leader NTT Docomo is poised to become the first of Japan's three leading carriers to cut prices for its main brand, Nikkei reported Monday.