Coronavirus upsets Japan 5G launch

Rakuten delays rollout and other mobile carriers lose impact during key sales window

20200514 NTT 5G

Japan's top three carriers -- NTT Docomo, KDDI and SoftBank Corp -- rolled out their 5G services in late March ahead of Japan's new fiscal year.

WATARU SUZUKI, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- The coronavirus outbreak has upset efforts by Japan's mobile phone carriers to attract new 5G customers, forcing them to curb store operations and cancel promotional events.

The country's top three carriers -- NTT Docomo, KDDI and SoftBank Corp -- rolled out 5G services in late March ahead of Japan's new fiscal year, which started in April, and the Golden Week holiday which lasted from the end of April until early May.

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