Softbank - Japan
Softbank (Japan) uses 3 UMTS bands, 7 LTE bands, and 4 5G NR bands. Find out if your unlocked phone or mobile device will work with Softbank (Japan). See the tables below for details.
Check device compatibilityCarrier website: http://www.softbank.co.jp
Last updated: 2024/08/03 - See latest updates
SoftBank Japan is one of the major mobile network operators in Japan, offering a range of services including mobile phone plans, Wi-Fi spots, and prepaid SIM cards. Here are some key points about the network:
Coverage and Service Area:
- SoftBank provides extensive coverage across Japan, with detailed coverage maps available through the Opensignal app, which crowdsources data from users to reflect real-world network performance.
- The service area can vary depending on the model of the device and the specific contract or settings.
Wi-Fi Spots:
- SoftBank offers a free Wi-Fi service at various locations such as cafes, restaurants, and major train stations. These Wi-Fi spots are continuously expanding.
Prepaid SIM Cards:
- SoftBank provides prepaid SIM cards with high-speed data packages. For example, a 10GB high-speed data package in 4G/LTE is available for 10 days, with unlimited data at 384 kbps in 3G after the initial 1GB is used up.
Business Services:
- SoftBank Telecom Corporation, which merged into SoftBank Mobile Corp. in 2015, provided services to businesses and consumers, including long-distance telephone service, international calls, and direct connection fixed-line voice service.
Product Information:
- SoftBank offers a variety of mobile products, including iPhones, iPads, smartphones, and tablets, along with information on charges and discounts.
Overall, SoftBank Japan offers comprehensive mobile network services, including extensive coverage, free Wi-Fi spots, and convenient prepaid SIM cards.
Frequency Bands
UMTS
| Name | Interface | Description |
|---|---|---|
| B1 (2100 MHz) | UMTS | SoftBank Japan uses UMTS band B1 (2100 MHz). It was deployed in December 2002. |
| B8 (900 MHz GSM) | UMTS | Softbank Japan uses the UMTS B8 (900 MHz GSM) frequency band. This band was deployed in 2012 as part of the company's efforts to enhance its network coverage and handle increasing traffic. The deployment included the installation of approximately 16,000 base stations in fiscal 2012, with plans to expand to 41,000 by fiscal 2016, providing 99.9% population coverage. |
| B11 (1500 MHz Lower) | UMTS | SoftBank Japan uses the UMTS band B11, which operates at 1500 MHz. This band was deployed in November 2010 and was refarmed for LTE in March 2017. |
Supported UMTS Protocols
| Name | Generation |
|---|---|
| UMTS | 3G |
| HSPA+ | 3.5G (4G speed) |
LTE
| Name | Interface | Description |
|---|---|---|
| B1 (2100 MHz) | LTE | Softbank Japan uses LTE band B1 (2100 MHz). This band is part of the LTE frequency bands used by Softbank. The deployment date of this band is not specified. |
| B8 (900 MHz) | LTE | Softbank Japan uses LTE band B8 (900 MHz). This band was deployed in July 2012. |
| B41 (TD 2500 MHz) | LTE | SoftBank Japan uses LTE Band 41 (TD 2500 MHz) for its 4G network. This band is positioned in the 2.5 GHz range, balancing coverage and densification, making it particularly valuable in urban and densely populated areas. The band operates with a TDD configuration, allowing operators to manage uplink and downlink traffic efficiently. It is used for high-speed data services and is a key component of SoftBank's 4G network infrastructure. |
| B3 (1800 MHz +) | LTE | SoftBank Japan uses LTE band B3 (1800 MHz +). The deployment of this frequency band was added to SoftBank Japan on August 3, 2024. |
| B11 1500 MHz Lower | LTE | Softbank Japan uses the LTE B11 1500 MHz Lower frequency band. This band was added to Softbank Japan on August 3, 2024. |
| B28 (700 MHz APT) | LTE | Softbank Japan uses LTE Band 28 (700 MHz APT) for its 4G LTE network. This band operates between 703 MHz and 803 MHz, supporting channel bandwidths of 5, 10, 15, and 20 MHz. The band is known for its excellent propagation characteristics, allowing signals to penetrate buildings and cover larger geographic areas with less infrastructure. It is also utilized for public safety communications in the United States, managed by the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). |
| B42 (TD 3500 MHz) | LTE | Softbank Japan uses LTE band B42 (TD 3500 MHz). This band was added to Softbank Japan's frequency spectrum on August 3, 2024. |
Supported LTE Protocols
| Name | Generation |
|---|---|
| LTE | 4G |
5G NR
| Name | Interface | Description |
|---|---|---|
| N3 (1800 MHz) | 5G NR | Softbank Japan uses the 5G NR frequency band N3 (1800 MHz). This band covers the frequency range from 1710 to 1880 MHz. It supports various channel bandwidths including 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 MHz. The n3 band is known for its excellent coverage and building penetration due to its propagation characteristics, making it a popular choice for 5G deployments. |
| N28 (700 MHz) | 5G NR | Softbank Japan uses the 5G NR N28 (700 MHz) frequency band. This band covers the range of 703 to 803 MHz for both uplink and downlink. The band is utilized for FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) mode, with the uplink spanning from 703 to 748 MHz and the downlink spanning from 758 to 803 MHz. The duplex spacing is 55 MHz, and the supported channel bandwidths include 5, 10, 15, and 20 MHz. |
| N77 (3700 MHz) | 5G NR | Softbank Japan uses the 5G NR frequency band N77, which operates at 3700 MHz. This band is part of the 3.7 GHz frequency range and is commonly referred to as the C-band 5G. The n77 band supports a wide range of channel bandwidths, from 10 MHz to 100 MHz, and is known for its high capacity and throughput capabilities. Softbank Japan has deployed this band to enhance its 5G network, leveraging advanced technologies like massive MIMO, beam-forming, and beam-tracking to improve coverage and performance. The deployment of the n77 band supports Softbank's efforts to provide comprehensive 5G services across Japan. |
| N257 (mmWave 28 GHz) | 5G NR | SoftBank Japan has utilized the 5G NR N257 (mmWave 28 GHz) frequency band for its 5G trials. The trials began in August 2016, with the aim of verifying ultra-speed broadband communications and ultra-low latency communications on this frequency band. The trials were conducted in Tokyo Waterfront City (Daiba District) and involved the use of trial equipment mounted with 5G technology elements to test Massive MIMO, new air interfaces, and other aspects of 5G technology. |
Latest updates
- 2024/08/03 - Frequency LTE B9 (1800 MHz) removed from Softbank Japan.
- 2024/08/03 - Frequency LTE B3 (1800 MHz +) added to Softbank Japan.
- 2024/08/03 - Frequency LTE B11 1500 MHz Lower added to Softbank Japan.
- 2024/08/03 - Frequency LTE B28 (700 MHz APT) added to Softbank Japan.
- 2024/08/03 - Frequency LTE B42 (TD 3500 MHz) added to Softbank Japan.
- 2024/08/03 - Frequency 5G NR N3 (1800 MHz) added to Softbank Japan.
- 2024/08/03 - Frequency 5G NR N28 (700 MHz) added to Softbank Japan.
- 2024/08/03 - Frequency 5G NR N77 (3700 MHz) added to Softbank Japan.
- 2024/08/03 - Frequency 5G NR N257 (mmWave 28 GHz) added to Softbank Japan.
