This series provides a weekly roundup of developments in the world of low-cost SIMs and SIM-free smartphones, along with a price list of major budget SIMs. Last week's news was the announcement of a delay in Nihon Tsushin's 'Full MVNO' service. This marks the second postponement, with the launch now scheduled for next spring.
Nihon Tsushin's Full MVNO Service Launch Delayed for Second Time Due to Technical Interconnection Issues with Voice Carriers
Nihon Tsushin had initially planned to launch its new service, based on interconnection with NTT Docomo's voice and SMS networks, on November 24, 2026, but has now announced a delay of approximately five months.
Nihon Tsushin and NTT Docomo agreed to interconnect in February 2024. They had planned to launch the Full MVNO service – which Nihon Tsushin refers to as 'Neo Carrier' – on May 24 of this year, coinciding with the company's 30th anniversary. This service involves operating core functions, such as data and voice switching equipment, subscriber information management systems, and proprietary SIM card issuance, using their own managed infrastructure.
Subsequently, after the launch was initially postponed by six months to November 24, an interconnection agreement was signed with NTT Docomo in July of this year. While progress was made on establishing an emergency communication network and interconnecting with various voice carriers, it was discovered that there were several technical issues with these interconnections, leading to the decision to postpone the launch further.
The benefits of becoming a Full MVNO include the ability to offer highly flexible services, including voice calls and international roaming. Furthermore, among other low-cost SIM providers pursuing Full MVNO status, including voice and SMS capabilities, is mineo (Optage), which aims to launch its service by the second half of 2027.
