SoftBank Telecom

SoftBank Telecom Corporation was a Japanese telecommunications company within the SoftBank group. It operated primarily in Japan and served both business and consumer customers. Its activities centered on fixed-line telecommunications, including long-distance telephone services, international calling, leased circuits, and direct-connection voice services. The company also handled telecommunications billing and fee collection, advised customers on communications infrastructure, developed and installed telecommunications systems, and provided information-processing and related services. The business originated in the restructuring of Japan's telecommunications infrastructure during the 1980s. Japanese Telecom Telegraph was established in October 1984 and began leased-circuit services in August 1986. In preparation for the breakup and privatization of Japanese National Railways, a separate railway telecommunications company, JR Telecom, was established in December 1986 to assume telecommunications systems associated with the railway network. JR Telecom began operating after the Japanese National Railways reorganization took effect on 1 April 1987. Japanese Telecom Telegraph and JR Telecom merged in May 1989, creating a broader fixed-line telecommunications business. The corporate structure changed again in August 2002, when the holding company adopted the name Japan Telecom Holdings and separated its fixed-line telecommunications operations into a new Japan Telecom company. The business later became part of the SoftBank group and was renamed SoftBank Telecom Corporation in October 2006. Under that identity, it represented the group's fixed-line and enterprise-oriented telecommunications capabilities, complementing SoftBank's other communications businesses. SoftBank Telecom did not remain a separate legal entity indefinitely. On 1 April 2015, it merged into SoftBank Mobile Corporation and ceased to exist as an independent company under the SoftBank Telecom name. The merger formed part of the consolidation of SoftBank's Japanese communications operations. The later public listing of SoftBank Corp. in December 2018 should not be treated as a separate listing of SoftBank Telecom: the former company had already been absorbed and was no longer a standalone issuer by that time.

SoftBank Telecom's corporate lineage began with the creation of Japanese Telecom Telegraph in October 1984. The company entered the infrastructure market with leased-circuit services in August 1986. Its development occurred during a major reorganization of Japan's telecommunications and railway sectors. In December 1986, as the Japanese government prepared to divide and privatize Japanese National Railways, it established JR Telecom to take over telecommunications systems associated with the railway network. Following the formal division and privatization of Japanese National Railways on 1 April 1987, JR Telecom began operations. Japanese Telecom Telegraph and JR Telecom merged in May 1989, combining their telecommunications activities. The business underwent another structural reorganization in August 2002. The parent holding company adopted the name Japan Telecom Holdings, while its fixed-line telecommunications operations were separated into a newly formed Japan Telecom company. The company subsequently entered the SoftBank group and adopted the SoftBank Telecom Corporation name in October 2006. As SoftBank Telecom, the company provided communications services to businesses and consumers in Japan. Its portfolio included long-distance voice services, international calling, leased circuits, direct-connection fixed-line services, and related telecommunications infrastructure. It also undertook billing and fee collection, consulting, telecommunications-system development and installation, information processing, and associated services. The SoftBank group later consolidated its Japanese communications businesses. On 1 April 2015, SoftBank Telecom Corporation merged into SoftBank Mobile Corporation and ceased to exist as a separate legal entity. Consequently, SoftBank Telecom is best understood as a former corporate brand and operating company rather than as the currently listed SoftBank telecommunications issuer. SoftBank Corp. subsequently completed an initial public offering in December 2018, but that listing occurred after SoftBank Telecom's dissolution and does not establish a separate current listing for the former company.

1. 2018Successor communications issuer goes public

   SoftBank Corp. completed an initial public offering in December, after SoftBank Telecom had already been dissolved.

   Source
2. 2015Company ceases to exist separately

   SoftBank Telecom merged into SoftBank Mobile Corporation on 1 April and ended its existence as a separate company.

   Source
3. 2006Renamed SoftBank Telecom

   The company adopted the SoftBank Telecom Corporation name in October.

   Source
4. 2002Japan Telecom restructuring

   Japan Telecom Holdings was created through a name change, while the fixed-line business was separated into a new Japan Telecom entity.

   Source
5. 1989Predecessor companies merge

   Japanese Telecom Telegraph merged with JR Telecom in May.

   Source
6. 1987JR Telecom begins operations

   JR Telecom commenced operations following the division and privatization of Japanese National Railways on 1 April.

   Source
7. 1986Leased-circuit services launched

   Japanese Telecom Telegraph began offering leased-circuit services in August.

   Source
8. 1986JR Telecom established

   JR Telecom was established in December to assume telecommunications systems connected with Japanese National Railways during preparations for its privatization.

   Source
9. 1984Japanese Telecom Telegraph founded

   Japanese Telecom Telegraph, a predecessor in SoftBank Telecom's corporate lineage, was established in October.

   Source

A Japanese fixed-line and enterprise telecommunications operator within the SoftBank group, with roots in the liberalization and restructuring of Japan's telecommunications infrastructure.

• Leased circuit servicesEnterprise connectivity1986

  Dedicated telecommunications circuits for business and infrastructure users. Leased-circuit services were among the earliest documented offerings in the company's corporate lineage, beginning with Japanese Telecom Telegraph in August 1986.

• Long-distance telephone serviceFixed-line voice

  Domestic long-distance calling delivered through the company's fixed-line telecommunications network. The service formed part of SoftBank Telecom's consumer and business communications portfolio in Japan.

• International callingVoice communications

  International telephone connectivity for customers in Japan. It was one of the company's principal voice-service activities alongside domestic long-distance and direct-connection fixed-line calling.

• Direct-connection fixed-line voice serviceFixed-line voice

  Fixed-line voice connectivity supplied through direct connection arrangements. The service supported both business and consumer telecommunications requirements in Japan.

• Telecommunications systems consulting and developmentTelecommunications services

  Consulting, development, establishment, and installation of telecommunications systems. These activities extended the company beyond connectivity into communications infrastructure and technical services.

• Billing and information-processing servicesTelecommunications support services

  Operational services associated with telecommunications, including billing, fee collection, information processing, and related administrative or technical functions.

• 2015Merge SoftBank Telecom into SoftBank MobileM&A

  SoftBank consolidated its Japanese communications operations and ended SoftBank Telecom's existence as a standalone operating company.

  What changed. SoftBank Telecom Corporation merged into SoftBank Mobile Corporation on 1 April.

  Aftermath. SoftBank Telecom ceased to exist as a separate legal entity and continued only through the successor corporate structure.

  Source
• 2006Adopt the SoftBank Telecom identityStrategy

  Following its integration into the SoftBank group, the Japanese fixed-line telecommunications business received a new corporate identity.

  What changed. The company was renamed SoftBank Telecom Corporation in October.

  Aftermath. The company operated under the SoftBank Telecom name until its merger into SoftBank Mobile in 2015.

  Source
• 2002Separate the fixed-line telecommunications businessStrategy

  The corporate structure was reorganized as Japan Telecom Holdings, with the fixed-line telecommunications operation separated into a new Japan Telecom entity.

  What changed. The holding company changed its name and transferred the fixed-line operating business into a separate company.

  Aftermath. The restructured business later became part of the SoftBank group and was renamed SoftBank Telecom in 2006.

  Source

• 2018SoftBank Corp. completes initial public offering after SoftBank Telecom's dissolution

  SoftBank Corp. went public in December 2018. This event concerned the successor corporate structure and was not a separate listing of SoftBank Telecom, which had ceased to exist in 2015.

  Other
  Source
• 2015SoftBank Telecom merges into SoftBank Mobile

  SoftBank Telecom Corporation was merged into SoftBank Mobile Corporation on 1 April 2015 and ceased to exist as a separate company.

  M&A
  Source
• 2006SoftBank Telecom name adopted

  The Japan Telecom business was renamed SoftBank Telecom Corporation in October 2006 after becoming part of the SoftBank group.

  Other
  Source
• 2002Fixed-line business separated during Japan Telecom restructuring

  In August 2002, the holding company changed its name to Japan Telecom Holdings and separated its fixed-line telecommunications business into a new Japan Telecom entity.

  Other
  Source

1. SoftBank Telecom
2. SoftBank official website