Japan Inbound Wholesale Roaming Market To Reach $2.35 Billion By 2030

Japan Inbound Wholesale Roaming Market Growth & Trends

The Japan inbound wholesale roaming market size is expected to reach USD 2.35 billion by 2030 and exhibit a CAGR of 6.7% from 2024 to 2030 according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc., The widespread deployment of 5G infrastructure across Japan has significantly enhanced data speeds and connectivity, catering to modern travellers who rely heavily on mobile data for various applications, including streaming, navigation, and real-time communication. The growing number of 5G mobile subscribers worldwide is significantly driving the demand for roaming services. International travellers with 5G-enabled devices seek high-speed data connectivity, further fuelling this demand.

The widespread adoption of advanced technologies, such as IoT, Cloud, and 5G is providing significant growth opportunities for the Japan inbound wholesale roaming market. The rapid increase in connected devices, from industrial machinery to wearable technology, requires robust, geographically neutral connectivity solutions. Roaming services are crucial in ensuring seamless data transmission for these devices globally. Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are well-positioned to exploit this market by developing specialized roaming packages tailored to the specific data transmission needs of IoT and M2M devices, such as low power consumption, reliable small data packet transfers, or real-time data exchange.

Strategic partnerships between Japanese and international telecom operators also play a crucial role in enhancing the quality and coverage of roaming services, ensuring that travellers experience consistent and high-quality connectivity. These factors are collectively driving the growth of the Japan inbound roaming market, emphasizing the importance of advanced network infrastructure and customer-centric service offerings.

However, long average of clearing and settlement times significantly impact various aspects of the inbound wholesale roaming market in Japan. From a financial perspective, delayed payments result in postponed revenue recognition for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), straining their cash flow and making investments in network improvements, new technologies, and expansion projects difficult. This also necessitates higher working capital to bridge the gap between service delivery and payment receipt, increasing financial pressure on the operators. 

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Japan Inbound Wholesale Roaming Market Report Highlights

• Based on service, the IoT segment is expected to register a CAGR of 10.6% from 2024 to 2030. The deployment of Low-Power Wide-Area (LPWA) and 5G technologies is significantly boosting the use of interconnected and eSIM-enabled consumer IoT devices, such as NB-IoT-enabled door locks, smoke alarms, smart home appliances, 4G-connected cameras, multilingual translators, and 5G FWA CPEs. IoT devices are increasingly equipped with eSIM technology to simplify the activation of various isolated devices. The eSIM technology automates this process safely and efficiently. The notable rise in eSIM adoption is driving the growth of the IoT sector in Japan's inbound wholesale roaming market by ensuring reliable and effective global device activation and usage.

• Based on roaming type, the post-paid segment is expected to register a CAGR of 7.0% from 2024 to 2030. Japan is a major hub for business travel, where post-paid plans offer a convenient and cost-effective solution for staying connected with colleagues and clients on the go. Japanese mobile operators are capitalizing on this trend by offering tailored post-paid plans to meet the specific needs of business travellers, enhancing their connectivity and productivity while traveling.

• In terms of application, the mobile router usage roaming segment is expected to register a CAGR of 9.8% from 2024 to 2030. This segment is thriving due to the growing demand for reliable internet connectivity among international travellers. Mobile routers provide a convenient solution for tourists, business travellers, and expatriates, enabling continuous internet access without the need for local SIM cards or public Wi-Fi networks. This increased demand is fuelled by the necessity for seamless communication, access to online services, and the convenience of connecting multiple devices simultaneously.

• Based on inbound countries, the China segment is expected to register a CAGR of 8.8% from 2024 to 2030. China's expanding economy, growing population, and rapidly increasing middle-class income group are significantly boosting various industries, including international travel. As disposable incomes rise, more Chinese citizens are traveling abroad, with Japan becoming a popular destination. This influx of Chinese tourists is not only bolstering Japan's tourism industry but also prompting Japanese mobile operators to offer tailored roaming packages to meet the needs of these visitors, thereby capitalizing on the trend and enhancing the travel experience for Chinese tourists. 

Japan Inbound Wholesale Roaming Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the Japan inbound wholesale roaming market based on service, roaming type, application, inbound countries, and region:

Japan Inbound Wholesale Roaming Service Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Data

• SMS

• Voice

• IoT

Japan Inbound Wholesale Roaming Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Pre-paid

• Post-paid

Japan Inbound Wholesale Roaming Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• MNO Telco Roaming

• Travel SIM Roaming

• Mobile Router Usage Roaming 

Japan Inbound Wholesale Roaming Inbound Countries Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• U.S.

• China

• Korea

• Taiwan

• Hong Kong

• Thailand

• Australia

• Philippines

• Malaysia

• Vietnam

• Rest of the World 

List of Key Players in the Japan Inbound Wholesale Roaming Market

• NTT DOCOMO

• SoftBank Corp.

• KDDI CORPORATION

• Rakuten Mobile, Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)

• Internet Initiative Japan Inc.

• Sakura Mobile

• Asahi Net, Inc.

• Sony Network Communications Inc. (So-net)

• WirelessGate Inc.

• Inbound Platform Corp.