BIGLOBE

BIGLOBE is a Japanese internet service and telecommunications brand whose name combines the words “big” and “globe.” It is associated with consumer and business connectivity services in Japan, including fixed internet access, mobile communications, and cloud-related offerings. The brand developed from the internet business associated with NEC and was historically known as NEC BIGLOBE. Its connection to NEC also extended beyond connectivity: following the separation of the business, NEC transferred most of the related PC Engine trademark portfolio, including rights connected with games published by NEC Home Electronics in Japan, to NEC BIGLOBE. This made the company a custodian of intellectual-property assets that reached beyond its core telecommunications activity. A major ownership change occurred in January 2017, when KDDI acquired BIGLOBE for 80 billion yen. The transaction placed BIGLOBE within the KDDI group and strengthened KDDI’s position in Japan’s fixed-line broadband market. The acquisition was described as making BIGLOBE Japan’s second-largest provider of fiber-optic internet connections. Under KDDI ownership, BIGLOBE remains a recognizable consumer-facing service brand rather than simply disappearing into the parent company’s corporate identity. BIGLOBE’s business scope is best understood as an integrated connectivity portfolio. Internet access is its central category, covering fixed-line services and fiber-optic connectivity. Mobile services extend the brand into wireless communications, while cloud services broaden its relevance to digital infrastructure and online business needs. The available reference material does not provide a complete current product catalogue, subscriber count, revenue history, or detailed organizational structure, so those aspects should not be inferred from the brand name alone. The brand also retains an unusual connection to the history of Japanese video-game intellectual property through the PC Engine trademark. As of July 2023, the PC Engine trademark was jointly owned by BIGLOBE and Konami. Konami inherited its interest from Hudson Soft after Hudson was absorbed into Konami in March 2012. The PC Engine arrangement did not cover every game associated with the platform: rights linked to NEC Avenue and NEC Interchannel titles followed separate ownership histories and were not included in the transfer described in the reference material. BIGLOBE therefore occupies two related positions in Japanese business history. It is an established internet and communications brand that became part of KDDI through a significant acquisition, and it is also a holder of selected legacy NEC-related intellectual-property rights. Its primary market remains Japan, and its public identity is centered on connectivity and digital services rather than on the PC Engine properties.

BIGLOBE is a Japanese internet service provider and telecommunications brand associated with the former NEC internet business. The name is presented as a combination of “big” and “globe,” reflecting an internet-oriented identity. In its earlier corporate history, the business was known as NEC BIGLOBE, linking it to NEC’s broader technology and communications activities. The company’s development took place during the expansion of internet access in Japan. Its principal identity was that of an internet service provider, with its activities later encompassing fixed-line connectivity, mobile communications, and cloud services. The available reference material does not establish a precise founding year or provide a detailed chronology of every corporate reorganization, so the early history is best described through its NEC affiliation and subsequent separation from NEC rather than through unsupported dates. An important consequence of that separation was the transfer of most of the relevant PC Engine trademark portfolio from NEC to NEC BIGLOBE. The transferred rights included trademarks connected with games published by NEC Home Electronics in Japan. This gave the company a continuing relationship with a notable piece of Japanese consumer-electronics and video-game history, even though internet and telecommunications services remained its main business. In January 2017, KDDI acquired BIGLOBE for 80 billion yen. The acquisition moved the brand into the KDDI group and represented a significant consolidation in Japan’s communications market. The transaction was reported as making BIGLOBE the country’s second-largest provider of fiber-optic internet connections. BIGLOBE continued to operate as a recognizable service brand within KDDI’s portfolio. The PC Engine intellectual-property story continued after the acquisition. As of July 2023, BIGLOBE and Konami jointly owned the PC Engine trademark. Konami’s interest came through Hudson Soft, whose rights passed to Konami when Hudson was absorbed into that company in March 2012. The trademark position did not encompass all PC Engine-related game rights: properties associated with NEC Avenue and NEC Interchannel followed separate ownership histories and were excluded from the transfer described in the reference material. Today, BIGLOBE is best characterized as a Japan-focused connectivity brand within the KDDI group. Its publicly described scope includes internet access, fiber-optic broadband, mobile services, and cloud services. Detailed information about current executives, financial performance, subscriber numbers, product launch dates, and individual campaigns is not established by the supplied references.

• 2023

  PC Engine trademark jointly held by BIGLOBE and Konami

  [1]BIGLOBEen.wikipedia.org

  The PC Engine trademark was reported as jointly owned by BIGLOBE and Konami as of July 2023.

• 2017

  KDDI acquires BIGLOBE

  [1]BIGLOBEen.wikipedia.org

  KDDI acquired BIGLOBE in January 2017 for 80 billion yen, bringing the provider into the KDDI group.

• 2012

  Hudson Soft is absorbed into Konami

  [1]BIGLOBEen.wikipedia.org

  Hudson Soft’s integration into Konami established the ownership route through which Konami later held its interest in the PC Engine trademark.

• NEC transfers PC Engine-related trademarks to NEC BIGLOBE

  [1]BIGLOBEen.wikipedia.org

  Following the company’s development from the NEC internet business, NEC transferred most of the relevant PC Engine trademarks, including rights connected with games published by NEC Home Electronics in Japan, to NEC BIGLOBE.

A Japanese integrated connectivity and digital-services brand serving internet, fixed broadband, mobile, and cloud needs.

• Internet service

  Internet access

  Internet access is BIGLOBE’s core service category. The brand is identified as a Japanese internet service provider and is associated with consumer connectivity delivered through fixed and broadband networks. The supplied material does not specify individual plans, speeds, pricing, or current subscriber figures.

• Fixed telecommunications

  Fiber-optic broadband

  BIGLOBE provides fiber-optic internet connectivity in Japan. Its scale in this category was highlighted in connection with KDDI’s 2017 acquisition, when BIGLOBE was described as Japan’s second-largest provider of fiber-optic internet connections. Specific network arrangements and plan details are not established by the supplied sources.

• Mobile telecommunications

  Mobile services

  Mobile communications form part of BIGLOBE’s integrated telecommunications portfolio. The brand’s mobile offering complements its fixed internet business and positions it as a broader connectivity provider in Japan. The reference material does not identify particular mobile products, technologies, or launch dates.

• Cloud and digital services

  Cloud services

  Cloud services are included among BIGLOBE’s described business activities, extending the brand beyond access connectivity into hosted or cloud-based digital infrastructure. The supplied references do not provide a detailed catalogue of cloud products, target segments, or technical specifications.

• 2017

  KDDI acquisition of BIGLOBEM&A

  Background

  KDDI pursued the acquisition as part of its communications business expansion. BIGLOBE was already a substantial provider of internet and fiber-optic connectivity in Japan.

  Action taken

  KDDI acquired BIGLOBE in January 2017 for 80 billion yen and placed the company within the KDDI group.

  Aftermath

  The transaction made BIGLOBE part of KDDI’s broader telecommunications portfolio and was described as making it Japan’s second-largest fiber-optic internet provider.

  Acquisition value. 80 billion yen (January 2017)

  Source

• 2023

  BIGLOBE and Konami jointly hold the PC Engine trademark[1]BIGLOBEen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  By July 2023, the PC Engine trademark was jointly owned by BIGLOBE and Konami. Konami’s rights derived from Hudson Soft, which had been absorbed into Konami in 2012.

• 2017

  KDDI acquires BIGLOBE[1]BIGLOBEen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  KDDI acquired BIGLOBE in January 2017 for 80 billion yen. The transaction brought the Japanese internet service provider into the KDDI group and was described as strengthening KDDI’s position in fiber-optic internet access.

1. 1BIGLOBEen.wikipedia.org
2. 2BIGLOBE official websitebiglobe.ne.jp