Japan's NTT Docomo Raises Prices for Some Mobile Plans
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NTT Docomo, one of Japan's major mobile carriers, is renewing its popular 'ahamo' plan with several changes.
The company will end its '大盛りオプション' data add-on, which previously let users buy extra data allowance for a higher fee.
At the same time, Docomo is launching two new plans: 'docomo mini2' and 'docomo MAX 60', a plan designed for customers aged 60 and older.
Alongside these changes, the company will revise the monthly fees of some existing plans, raising prices for certain users.
Docomo explained that rising costs, including higher inflation and increased spending on network infrastructure, are behind the price changes.
This move follows a wider trend among Japanese companies, many of which have raised prices recently due to increased operating costs.
By introducing new plans alongside the price hikes, Docomo appears to be trying to balance rising expenses with maintaining customer loyalty.
The renewed 'ahamo' service will likely affect millions of users across Japan, given the plan's popularity since its launch.
Details about exact new prices for each plan have not been fully specified in the announcement, but changes will affect part of the existing lineup.
Vocabulary10 words
- carrier
- a company that provides phone and internet service
- data allowance
- the amount of internet data you can use
- monthly fee
- money paid every month for a service
- inflation
- a general rise in prices over time
- infrastructure
- basic systems like networks or equipment needed to run a service
- operating costs
- money a business spends to keep running
- customer loyalty
- when customers keep choosing the same company
- revise
- to change or update something
- add-on
- an extra feature you can buy with a main service
- lineup
- a group of products or plans offered together
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Quiz
Answer key
1. It is being renewed with new features and price changes 2. People aged 60 and older 3. Because of rising costs and inflation
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
NTT Docomo, one of Japan's major mobile carriers, is _____ its popular 'ahamo' plan with several changes.
The company will end its '大盛りオプション' data add-on, which previously let users buy extra data _____ for a higher fee.
At the same time, Docomo is launching two new plans: 'docomo mini2' and 'docomo MAX 60', a plan designed for customers aged 60 and _____.
Alongside these changes, the company will _____ the monthly fees of some existing plans, raising prices for certain users.
Docomo explained that rising costs, including higher inflation and increased spending on network _____, are behind the price changes.
This move follows a wider _____ among Japanese companies, many of which have raised prices recently due to increased operating costs.
By introducing new plans alongside the price hikes, Docomo appears to be trying to balance rising expenses with maintaining customer _____.
The renewed 'ahamo' service will likely affect millions of users across Japan, given the plan's _____ since its launch.
Details about exact new prices for each plan have not been fully _____ in the announcement, but changes will affect part of the existing lineup.
Discussion questions
- Why might a mobile carrier remove a popular data add-on option?
- How do rising costs for companies usually affect customers?
- Do you think offering senior-specific plans is a good business strategy? Why?
- Have you noticed price increases for services in your own country recently?
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