SoftBank kicks off Japan's 5G race with March launch

Nationwide coverage pushed to 2021 on logistical hurdles

20200305N SoftBank 5G

SoftBank's 5G service leverages the speed of network to stream multicamera sporting events and cloud-based games. (Photo from company's Facebook account)

TAKAFUMI HOTTA, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- The race to bring commercial 5G to Japan is under way, with SoftBank Corp. unveiling plans to introduce its service on March 27.

NTT Docomo and KDDI are expected to soon announce their own plans to start service this spring. Rakuten, which enters the mobile business this April, will begin offering the fifth-generation service in June. The ultrafast mobile connections have been rolled out in 30-plus countries.

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