KDDI and Rakuten have reached an agreement to collaborate on payments, logistics and telecommunications.
KDDI aims to provide new experience value for its customers by integrating its telecommunications services and life design services, such as its commerce, finance, energy, entertainment and education services.
Cooperation in payments services
Rakuten will provide its payment platforms, including the Rakuten Pay QR code payment, and network of affiliated stores to KDDI. KDDI will leverage this network of approximately 1.2 million affiliated stores and locations nationwide to launch its barcode and QR payment service au PAY from April 2019.
Cooperation in logistics services
Rakuten via its Super Logistics and Rakuten EXPRESS service .will provide its logistics services to the Wowma! internet shopping mall operated by KDDI from April 2019. By jointly promoting Rakuten's One Delivery vision, the two companies aim to realize efficient logistics and delivery services to address the issues faced in the logistics industry and further expand and develop the domestic e-commerce market.
Roaming agreement for communications network
KDDI has signed an agreement with Rakuten to provide roaming services to Rakuten for its 4G mobile network (LTE service) to be launched in October 2019. Through the agreement, Rakuten will be able to offer a nationwide LTE service from launch.
In the agreement, KDDI will provide roaming services until the end of March 2026. During this period, Rakuten will build out its own network, and will begin offering its own network services in areas where the construction of the network has been completed.
