Softbank Stock Price, News & Analysis

SoftBank Corp. (SOBKY) represents an interest in SoftBank Corp., a Japan-based operator of telecommunications and IT businesses. According to multiple company and partner disclosures, SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) operates telecommunications services and combines them with advanced technologies to develop and operate new businesses in Japan and globally. The company is guided by the SoftBank Group corporate philosophy, “Information Revolution – Happiness for everyone.”

SoftBank Corp. is described as a leading mobile carrier and communication and information technology service provider in Japan. It serves mobile consumer and enterprise subscribers and provides mobile and broadband connectivity. Through group companies such as Yahoo Japan Corporation (also referred to as Yahoo Corporation in some disclosures), PayPay Corporation and LINE Corporation, SoftBank Corp. reaches large numbers of online media users, smartphone payment users and communication app users in Japan. These customer touchpoints form a strong business foundation that supports its growth strategy.

Beyond its core telecom services, SoftBank Corp. states that it is expanding into non-telecom fields under its “Beyond Carrier” growth strategy while continuing to grow its telecom business. The company highlights the use of technologies such as 5G and 6G mobile networks, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Digital Twin, and Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) solutions, including High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS)-based stratospheric telecommunications. SoftBank Corp. also refers to initiatives in robotics, big data and other advanced technologies as part of its broader technology focus.

Recent partner announcements emphasize SoftBank Corp.’s role in next-generation connectivity. In collaboration with Ericsson, SoftBank Corp. is enhancing its 4G and 5G networks in multiple regions of Japan, with a focus on expanding 5G Standalone coverage and integrating AI into radio access networks (AI-RAN). This partnership involves radio access network products across low, mid and high frequency bands and aims to improve network quality, coverage, mobility and energy efficiency.

SoftBank Corp. is also active in non-terrestrial and stratospheric telecommunications. It has been developing HAPS-based services and describes itself as a global pioneer in this area. The company, together with subsidiaries such as HAPSMobile Inc., is involved in HAPS-related research and development, spectrum usage planning and network equipment development. SoftBank Corp. and HAPSMobile collectively own a substantial portfolio of HAPS-related patents, including patents related to network technologies, services, operations and aircraft for HAPS, and are founding members of the HAPS Alliance, an association working to enable a HAPS ecosystem.

SoftBank Corp.’s activities in HAPS and NTN include partnerships and trials. It completed initial testing of Altaeros’ ST-Flex autonomous aerostat carrying a SoftBank base station system, which demonstrated high-altitude tethered aerostat base station operation and wider area network coverage. SoftBank Corp. also invests in and collaborates with companies such as Sceye, an aerospace company specializing in High-Altitude Platform Systems, to support the development of stratospheric telecommunications platforms and pre-commercial HAPS services in Japan.

In addition to network infrastructure, SoftBank Corp. engages in partnerships that extend its services and technology reach. It has selected Aryaka’s SD-WAN and SASE technology for its international SD-WAN service, SD-CORE(aryaka), enabling high-speed and stable data communications for overseas customer needs and offering centralized management, remote access and integration with cloud-based security services. SoftBank Corp. has also partnered with SES to aggregate and deliver live sporting events to corporate customers in Japan, using SES’s satellite and terrestrial infrastructure to provide premium sports content.

SoftBank Corp. participates in digital transformation and data-driven services through strategic investments and collaborations. It led a major funding round for Treasure Data, an enterprise customer data platform, with the goal of accelerating customer data platform innovation and global growth. The company has also entered into agreements to explore digital therapeutics for sleep/wake disorders in Japan, working with Pear Therapeutics on Japanese-language digital therapeutic applications and investigating market potential in the Japanese healthcare context.

SoftBank Corp. is active in AI and next-generation computing. Company descriptions note that it is constructing AI data centers and developing homegrown large language models (LLMs) specialized for the Japanese language with 1 trillion parameters. SoftBank Corp. states that it aims to integrate AI with radio access networks and become a provider of next-generation social infrastructure essential to the development of a digital society.

SoftBank Corp. also engages in consumer-facing AI and device partnerships. It has a strategic partnership with Humane Inc. to become the exclusive telecom provider for the Humane Ai Pin in Japan and to explore bringing Humane’s CosmOS to other mobile devices. This collaboration is intended to create a new device category and operating system offering for the Japanese market, combining SoftBank Corp.’s subscriber base and services with Humane’s AI developments.

SoftBank Corp. is part of a broader group strategy that includes exposure to telecom markets in Japan, Europe and the United States. SoftBank Group Corp. has highlighted its ownership stake in SoftBank Corp. and its strategic partnership with Deutsche Telekom AG, which provides SoftBank portfolio companies with access to customers across Europe and the US. Within this context, SoftBank Corp. functions as the Japan-based operating company focused on telecommunications and IT services.

Across these activities, SoftBank Corp. consistently presents its objective as using telecommunications and advanced technologies to support digitalization in society. It refers to aims such as the “Implementation of Digitalization into Society” and becoming “a company that provides next-generation social infrastructure essential to the development of a digital society,” reflecting its positioning within the information and communications sector.

Business focus and technology themes

Based on company and partner statements, SoftBank Corp.’s business focus includes:

• Telecommunications services in Japan for consumer and enterprise customers, including mobile and broadband connectivity.
• IT and digital services developed and operated in combination with telecom services, both in Japan and globally.
• Expansion into non-telecom fields in line with its “Beyond Carrier” growth strategy, building on its telecom foundation and customer touchpoints.
• Advanced network technologies such as 5G, 6G, IoT, Digital Twin and AI-RAN.
• Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) and HAPS-based stratospheric telecommunications, including patent ownership, alliances and platform trials.
• AI infrastructure and applications, including AI data centers and Japanese-language LLM development.
• Digital content and data platforms, through collaborations in areas such as customer data platforms, SD-WAN/SASE, live sports content delivery and digital therapeutics.

SoftBank Corp. and the wireless telecommunications industry

Within the wireless telecommunications carriers industry, SoftBank Corp. is described as a leading mobile carrier in Japan and a telecom operator that combines network services with advanced technologies. Its partnerships in 4G, 5G and future 6G networks, its involvement in HAPS and NTN solutions, and its integration of AI into network operations illustrate its focus on evolving connectivity infrastructure. The company’s collaborations with global technology, aerospace, satellite and software firms show how it seeks to apply connectivity and IT capabilities across different sectors.

FAQs