Overview of NTT DoCoMo
NTT DoCoMo, the mobile company of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT), is Japan's largest mobile operator and a core company in the NTT Group. It is known for technology and service quality. It was one of the first operators to offer commercial 3G WCDMA, and it is a global leader in 5G research and deployment.
DoCoMo sells IoT from the connection through to the platform, aimed at Society 5.0. The platform supports NB-IoT and LTE-M, and is used for smart cities, Industry 4.0, and healthcare.
NTT DoCoMo facts
- Founded: 1992
- Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
- Users: about 83 million in Japan
- Parent: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT)
- Radio access: 4G LTE, 5G NR, NB-IoT, LTE-M
- Notable for: early commercial WCDMA 3G, and a contributor to technical standards
Core technical capabilities
5G
Early global 5G trials, with commercial sub-6 GHz and mmWave
Medical IoT
5G remote surgery, AI-assisted diagnosis, and remote patient monitoring
Smart factories
5G private networks in factories, machine vision, and AGV automation
Positioning
Millimetre-level indoor and outdoor positioning for industrial assets and worker safety
IoT products
IoT connectivity
docomo IoT SIM
- SIM for IoT devices
- NB-IoT and LTE-M
- Remote eSIM provisioning
- Global roaming
docomo IoT platform
- Device-management console
- Data collection and analysis
- Rules engine and alerts
- Open APIs
Network standards and coverage
| Technology | Band | Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4G LTE | 700/800/1500/1700/2100 MHz | Nationwide in Japan | Main network |
| NB-IoT | 700/800 MHz | Deployed nationwide in Japan | Low-power sensors |
| LTE-M | 1500 MHz | Nationwide | Mobile IoT and wearables |
| 5G NR Sub-6GHz | 3.7/4.5 GHz | Still being built in major cities | High-speed IoT |
| 5G NR mmWave | 28 GHz | Core commercial districts | Very high throughput |
Industry Solutions
Healthcare
- 5G remote surgery
- Wearable health monitoring
- Hospital ward management
- AI medical imaging
Manufacturing
- 5G private networks in factories
- Industrial robot control
- Automated quality inspection
- Energy-use optimization
Transport
- Support for autonomous driving
- V2X
- Port automation
- Construction-site safety
Retail and services
- Unstaffed convenience stores
- AI analysis of customer behaviour
- Smart shelf management
- Experience-led retail IoT
Competitive advantages
- Research: A large portfolio of 5G and IoT patents, and a long role in technical standards
- Network quality: The highest nationwide coverage in Japan, with strong stability
- NTT Group: Integrated services that use the group's IT capability
- Healthcare: An early mover in 5G medical applications
- Enterprise: Full ICT solutions for large companies
History and milestones
NTT DoCoMo was founded in 1992, when NTT spun out its mobile division. In 1993 it was the first in Japan to offer commercial PDC digital mobile service. In 1999 it launched i-mode, an early mobile internet service. In 2001 it became the first operator in the world to offer commercial 3G WCDMA.
On IoT, it launched commercial NB-IoT and LTE-M nationwide in Japan in 2018, and commercial 5G in 2020. In 2021 it completed a take-private merger into parent NTT and delisted, and put Society 5.0 at the centre of its docomo new-normal strategy. In 2022 it launched commercial 5G standalone, the basis for IoT network slicing and very low latency. NTT's IT, AI, and cybersecurity work lets DoCoMo offer large enterprises a wider digital service than a typical mobile operator.
docomo IoT plans
IoT SIM plan
Radio access: NB-IoT / LTE-M / 4G LTE
Billing: A monthly fee per device, plus a charge for usage above the allowance
Devices: Sensors, trackers, and meters
Enterprise private network
Includes: Dedicated APN, fixed IP, and VPN
Sites: Enclosed sites such as factories, hospitals, and campuses
Why it is used: Isolated data paths and custom configuration
5G Local
Includes: Deployment and operation of a local 5G private network
Sites: Smart factories and large medical institutions
Why it is used: Very low latency, and data stays on the premises
Support
Enterprise support
- A corporate sales unit
- IoT solution engineers
- On-site technical support
- Support coordinated with the NTT Group
Developer support
- IoT API documentation
- d-platform development environment
- Technical seminars and training
- Joint innovation programme
Network security
- IoT device authentication
- Detection of abnormal network behaviour
- Vulnerability assessment
- Incident response