NTT Docomo reports another outage affecting 5G standalone customers, with voice calls, mobile data and text messaging disrupted across Japan.

TOKYO: Japan is facing fresh telecommunications disruptions after major mobile carrier NTT Docomo Inc. reported nationwide problems with its 5G standalone (SA) mobile service on Wednesday.

According to a notice issued by the telecommunications company, the disruption began at approximately 10:34am local time, affecting customers subscribed to its 5G SA service.

Affected users experienced difficulties making voice calls, accessing mobile data services and sending text messages.

NTT Docomo said the cause of the disruption was under investigation. However, the company clarified that its other 5G and 4G mobile services remained unaffected.

The latest incident has raised concerns about the reliability of the carrier’s 5G standalone network, particularly as it follows another major outage last week.

That disruption lasted approximately 14 hours and affected around 1.5 million customers across Japan.

The repeated service interruptions come as telecommunications operators continue expanding advanced mobile networks to support faster connectivity and growing demand for digital services.

NTT Docomo has not provided further details about the cause of Wednesday’s disruption in its initial announcement.

Customers relying on the affected 5G SA network may continue to experience difficulties until the company completes its investigation and restores normal operations.

The incident highlights the importance of network stability as Japan continues developing its next-generation telecommunications infrastructure.