# Japan MVNO market trends and IIJ technological developments

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/japan-mvno-market-trends-and-iij-technological-developments
> Updated: 2026-08-27T04:09:50.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2.

In August 2026, market data indicated that the primary smartphone contract market share for Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in Japan rose to 9.3%. IIJmio was identified as the market leader among primary MVNO users with a 13.1% share.

Following this market overview, Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ) introduced the ‘IIJ Multi-Profile SIM 2.0’. This business-oriented communication solution allows a single SIM card to switch between NTT Docomo and KDDI networks to provide carrier redundancy. The technology is intended for the IoT sector to ensure high availability and connection stability, with early adoption reported by Itec Co., Ltd. for wireless parking systems.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-27: Internet Initiative Japan launches dual-carrier IoT SIM

Internet Initiative Japan launched ‘IIJ Multi-Profile SIM 2.0’, allowing a single SIM to switch between NTT Docomo and KDDI networks to provide carrier redundancy for IoT devices.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/internet-initiative-japan-launches-dual-carrier-iot-sim

### 2026-08-25: IIJmio leads MVNO market share in Japan, survey shows

A 2026 MMD Research Institute survey shows IIJmio leads Japan's MVNO market share at 13.1%, while Nippon Tsushin SIM ranks highest in customer satisfaction.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/iijmio-leads-mvno-market-share-in-japan-survey-shows

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Cite as: Japan MVNO market trends and IIJ technological developments. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/japan-mvno-market-trends-and-iij-technological-developments