The total machine-to-machine (M2M) / Internet of Things (IoT) cellular subscriptions in Japan are projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.7% during 2025-2030 and reach about 110 million by end of 2030, mainly driven by 5G advancements, expanding digital infrastructure, and increasing use cases for IoT ecosystems like industrial automation, smart infrastructure, and connected mobility, forecasts GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
GlobalData’s Japan Mobile Broadband Forecast (Q3 2025) reveals that 5G mobile subscriptions in the region are expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.4% during 2025-2030, driven by the ongoing 5G network coverage expansion efforts by all the major telecom operators.
For instance, KDDI and SoftBank plan to expand their 5G network by jointly building 100,000 base stations each by March 2031, through their 5G Japan Corporation joint venture.
Sarwat Zeeshan, Telecom Analyst at GlobalData, says:
“The evolution of 5G networks, which offer ultra-low latency, high-bandwidth connectivity and the capacity to connect massive number of devices crucial for M2M/IoT ecosystems, will be crucial for market growth over the forecast period. Enterprise 5G penetration and mature digital infrastructure is expected to drive M2M/IoT adoption in the country.”
The evolving use cases for M2M/IoT across industries like manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, transportation, and security, and in digital infrastructure applications like smart cities, smart buildings, smart grids, smart stores, combined with the telcos’ dedicated connectivity plans will also drive M2M/IoT adoption in the region over the forecast period. For instance, KDDI is offering smart factory IoT solutions that can help manufacturers improve their processes by collecting, analyzing and visualizing data from machine tools and equipment.
Zeeshan concludes: “The growing demand for enterprise-grade IoT solutions and connectivity is poised to significantly transform the mobile services market in Japan. This transformation presents telcos with opportunities for new revenue streams and diversification. KDDI and NTT Docomo lead the M2M/IoT market in terms of cellular connections, thanks to their strong focus 5G network expansion and modernization, which is crucial for enabling IoT connectivity. These telcos are also offering dedicated M2M/IoT plans targeted at applications such as smart factory, remote monitoring, real-time vehicle management and fleet tracking, and asset management.”
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