“Quality of signal” or “monthly fee even 1 yen cheaper”? “Failure-proof selection criteria” for those abandoning major carriers due to price hikes
Hello, I am Tama, a current electronics retail store staff member.
In the previous article, I discussed “for families of 3 or more who also have their internet bundled with SoftBank, it is better not to switch even if prices go up, as you won't lose out in total”.
So, what should those who don't have internet discounts, “couples living alone,” “a parent and two children,” or “single users” living alone do? This time, I will propose the real escape routes for them.
◆ The pitfall of “2-person families,” where choosing a plan is actually the most difficult
Standing at the counter of a mobile phone shop, the thing I find most “wasteful” is the pattern where a family of two is using the main plans of major carriers.
In fact, family discounts for the three major carriers only reach their full amount with “3 or more people.”
If there are only two people, the discount amount is halved (about 550 to 660 yen less per month), so compared to families of three or more receiving full discounts, the smartphone cost per person is over 500 yen higher every month.
As for single users, they don't even get family discounts, so they just keep paying high basic rates. With the current price hikes from SoftBank and Y!mobile, this is nothing but a sign that you should “review your plan.”
◆ Choose one of the “3 escape routes” that suits you
For those living alone or in pairs, the realistic options to break away from the high basic rates of major carriers and significantly lower fixed costs are narrowed down to the following three. Try choosing according to the “standards you seek in a smartphone.”
If you want to lower costs without sacrificing communication quality, go for “sub-brands” or “low-capacity plans”
The most reliable option is to switch to sub-brands or low-capacity plans such as “UQ mobile,” which allows you to use the same top-quality lines as the major carriers, “Y!mobile,” which is still strong if your internet and family are bundled despite being subject to this price hike, or Docomo's low-capacity plan “Docomo mini.”
It is often said that “online-only plans (like LINEMO) are cheap,” but online plans can have areas where communication is slightly unstable during peak times. In that respect, with sub-brands, even if you are a single or two-person user, you can reliably lower your monthly bill to the 2,000 to 4,000 yen range by combining discounts, while maintaining the same explosive speed and stable communication as major carriers 24 hours a day.
2. If you want unlimited data without the hassle of binding contracts, go for “Rakuten Mobile”
For single users who have no family or internet ties, or for those who are just a couple without internet discounts, the strongest counter-punch is “Rakuten Mobile.”
It is an overwhelming price disruption of a maximum of 3,278 yen (tax included) for unlimited data, no matter how much you use.
It has become significantly easier to connect in the city, but you need to accept that “it is one step behind the signal persistence of the three major carriers” in underground spaces or deep inside high-rise buildings. However, for those who think “I don't mind signal unevenness, I just want to lower my payments with unlimited data!” this is the best possible escape route.
3. If you only use it for contact and social media and want it to be as cheap as possible, go for “budget SIMs”
If you are someone who says, “I only use a few gigabytes of data per month” or “I can put up with speed drops during lunch breaks,” then jumping into budget SIMs (MVNOs) like “Nihon Tsushin SIM” or “IIJmio” or “mineo” is the cheapest option. You can lower your smartphone bill to around 1,000 yen per month.
However, since these are in a state of “partially borrowing” the lines of major carriers, communication speeds drop sharply during lunch breaks and rush hours.
Please be prepared for the realistic disadvantage that there are times when you won't even be able to open images on social media, let alone watch videos.
◆ Summary: Staying as you are because it's a hassle is the biggest loss
Mobile carriers think 'Once we have them locked in, they won't bother switching to another company even if we raise prices a bit.' That is exactly why they are raising rates for existing users all at once.
Instead of just getting angry, use this price hike as an opportunity to re-evaluate 'which economic sphere (internet, number of family members) your household belongs to.'
I want to reliably save several thousand yen without sacrificing communication quality
⇒ To each company's 'sub-brand (UQ mobile, Y!mobile, etc., Docomo mini).'
I want the lowest price without any annoying restrictions and without worrying about data usage
⇒ To 'Rakuten Mobile.'
I don't mind if the speed slows down at times, I just want to pay around 1,000 yen per month
⇒ To 'budget SIM (Japan Communications, IIJmio, etc.).'
If you don't know what your current contract looks like, try visiting the smartphone section of a nearby electronics retailer. Staff like me should be able to lay out the rates for all carriers and help you puzzle it out together. (Of course, if you come to the store where I work, I'll do a full simulation for you, haha!)
(*This explanation is purely about the basic plan rates. It does not take into account smartphone installment payments or device return programs from each company, so please be sure to check the remaining balance on your device when switching!)