SoftBank to phase out PHS services
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Japan’s SoftBank has revealed plans to stop providing personal handphone services (PHS) for general users from mid-2020.
SoftBank stopped accepting new contracts for individual PHS services in March and will phase out existing services for general users from July 2020.
SoftBank is the only operator in Japan to still be providing services based on the Japanese-developed PHS standard.
The company has been selling PHS handsets using its Ymobile budget brand.
SoftBank will also stop providing new PHS contracts for inter-device communications, such as for vending machines and marking units, from March next year, but will continue services for existing users.
The PHS standard was originally developed by NTT Laboratory in 1989, and services first launched in Japan in 1995.
Questions & Answers
Q.When will SoftBank stop providing PHS services for general users?
When will SoftBank stop providing PHS services for general users?
SoftBank will phase out existing PHS services for general users from July 2020. The company stopped accepting new contracts for these individual services in March of the current year.
Q.Does any other company in Japan still offer PHS services?
Does any other company in Japan still offer PHS services?
No, SoftBank is currently the sole operator in Japan that continues to provide services based on the Japanese-developed PHS standard. All other providers have already ceased offering PHS.
Q.Will SoftBank continue PHS services for machine-to-machine communication?
Will SoftBank continue PHS services for machine-to-machine communication?
SoftBank will stop offering *new* PHS contracts for inter-device communications, such as for vending machines, from March next year. However, services will continue for existing users of these applications.
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