Research and Markets: EBITDA Margins Under Pressure in Japan as Competition Heats Up

Business Wire, August 15, 2008

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fdf23d/3q08_japan_mobile) has announced the addition of IE Market Research Corp.'s new report "3Q08 Japan Mobile Forecast, 2008 - 2010" to their offering.

This Mobile Forecast on Japan provides over 65 operational and financial metrics for the Japan wireless market. We cover quarterly historical data starting in 1Q2004 and ending in 1Q2008. We also provide four-year forecasts at the operator level going out to 2010. Operators covered for Japan include: NTT DoCoMo, KDDI (au), and Softbank Mobile. Our Mobile Forecasts are updated quarterly and are available for one-time delivery or through regular updates.

Notable highlights of the 3Q08 Japan Mobile Forecast include:

- Market shares (by subscribers) of major operators will remain roughly the same over the next several years, although we expect Softbank to pick up some market share losses by NTT DoCoMo. Our model is forecasting that NTT DoCoMo, KDDI (au), Softbank Mobile, and WILLCOM (PHS) will have approximately 48.9%, 28.6%, 18.0% and 4.6% of the subscriber market in Japan, respectively.

- Consumers in Japan will continue to see the highest levels of charges in East Asia. Our model continues to forecast ARPU levels of US$ 50.05 per user per month in 2010. Within Japan's operator space, KDDI (au) will receive the highest ARPU of US$ 54.77 in 2010.

- The operator that will enjoy the highest EBITDA margin in 2010 is NTT DoCoMo at 40.6%. On the other hand, KDDI (au) and Softbank Mobile will have much lower EBITDA margins of 27.6% and 28.7% respectively.

Key Topics Covered:

Charts 1-68 Results & Forecasts

-- Complete data series not available for this country forecast

-- Forecast (CY08 - CY10) available only for Softbank Mobile

-- Available only for NTT DoCoMo and KDDI (au)

Companies Mentioned:

NTT DoCoMo

KDDI

Softbank Mobile

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fdf23d/3q08_japan_mobile.>

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