
Rakuten Mobile is one of the rapidly growing telecommunications operators in Japan. This article provides detailed information about Rakuten Mobile’s communication speed and efforts to improve communication quality.
Rakuten Mobile’s Communication Speed
Rakuten Mobile’s communication speed varies depending on the user’s environment and area. Generally, Rakuten Mobile’s communication speed is classified as follows:
- Rakuten Line Area: In areas where Rakuten Mobile has independently deployed its network, high-speed data communication is possible. The theoretical maximum communication speed in the Rakuten Line Area is up to 1Gbps for download and up to 75Mbps for upload. However, actual speeds may vary depending on the location, time of day, and network congestion.
- Partner Line Area: Rakuten Mobile also provides services in areas where it borrows lines from KDDI (au). In these areas, high-speed data communication is also available, but speed control may be implemented during congestion.
Basic Knowledge of Communication Speed
The unit of communication speed, bps (bits per second), indicates how many bits of data can be transferred per second. Kbps (kilobits per second) is 1,000 bits per second, Mbps (megabits per second) is 1,000,000 bits per second, and Gbps (gigabits per second) is 1,000,000,000 bits per second.
- Download Speed: The speed at which data is received from the internet to the user’s device, affecting web page browsing and video streaming.
- Upload Speed: The speed at which data is sent from the user’s device to the internet, related to uploading photos and videos and sending emails. Faster download speeds make content retrieval smoother, and faster upload speeds enable quick data transmission.
Generally, a download speed of 10Mbps to 30Mbps is sufficient for everyday internet use. For smooth video streaming and online gaming, 50Mbps or more is recommended. For frequent use of cloud services and uploading large files, an upload speed of 10Mbps or more is desirable.
Efforts to Improve Communication Quality
Rakuten Mobile is making various efforts to improve communication quality. Below are the main initiatives:
- Establishment and Expansion of Base Stations: Rakuten Mobile is expanding its communication area and improving communication quality by installing new base stations and expanding existing ones nationwide. This includes not only urban areas but also rural areas.
- Introduction of Platinum Bands: From 2024, Rakuten Mobile started commercial services using the platinum band (700MHz band). The platinum band has characteristics that make communication stable even in places where radio waves are hard to reach, such as inside buildings and underground. This has significantly improved communication quality.
- Removal of High-Speed Data Communication Limits: Since June 2023, Rakuten Mobile has removed the data capacity limits for high-speed data communication even in partner line areas. This allows unlimited high-speed data communication similar to the Rakuten line area. However, speed control may be implemented during congestion.
- Monitoring and Improving Communication Quality: Rakuten Mobile constantly monitors communication quality and responds quickly when problems occur. They also continue to improve services based on user feedback.
Experience of Actual Communication Speed
Rakuten Mobile’s communication speed varies depending on the user’s environment. To confirm the actual speed, it is recommended to conduct a speed test. Below are the general speed test results:
- Urban Areas (Rakuten Line Area)
- Download Speed: 50Mbps to 200Mbps
- Upload Speed: 10Mbps to 50Mbps
- Rural Areas (Rakuten Line Area)
- Download Speed: 20Mbps to 100Mbps
- Upload Speed: 5Mbps to 30Mbps
- Partner Line Area
- Download Speed: 10Mbps to 50Mbps
- Upload Speed: 5Mbps to 20Mbps
These speeds are only guidelines, and actual speeds may vary depending on the usage environment and time of day.
Summary
Rakuten Mobile is actively working to improve communication speed and quality. Through various measures such as the establishment and expansion of base stations, the introduction of platinum bands, and the removal of high-speed data communication limits, Raku




