History

As of August 3, 2015

1953 March
An international operator's workstation

An international operator's workstation around the launch of KDD.
(Inside Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation around 1953)

Kokusai Denshin Denwa Co., Ltd. (KDD) is established.

KDD company symbol

KDD company symbol

1963 October
Ibaraki Space Communications Experiment

Ibaraki Space Communications Experimental Station (former Ibaraki Satellite Communications Center) when it first opened

First successful TV broadcast reception between Japan and the U.S.A. occurs at the Ibaraki Space Communications Experimental Station.

1964 June
TPC-1

The SS Long Lines discharges TPC-1
(Ninomiya, Kanagawa Prefecture)

KDD starts No. 1 Trans Pacific Cable (TPC-1) service.

TPC-1 (Trans Pacific Cable 1) was the first submarine cable to link the Kanagawa Prefecture Ninomiya Cable Landing Station and Guam and continue into mainland U.S.A. via Hawaii. It opened on June 19, 1964. Using a coaxial submarine cable, it had a small capacity of only 128 telephone lines and handled communications between Japan and the U.S.A for 26 years until 1990.
August KDD joins INTELSAT (International Telecommunications Satellite Organization).
1966 December
Ibaraki Earth Station

The Ibaraki Space Communications Experimental Station is inaugurated as the Ibaraki Earth Station in December 1966.

KDD starts service for Ibaraki Earth Station in Takahagi Ibaraki Prefecture. TV transmission between Japan and the U.S.A. begins.

In addition to acting as an earth station for INTELSAT Pacific Ocean satellite transmissions, this station was also used for TV signals via PanAmSat and AsiaSat. It closed on March 16, 2007.
1969 May KDD starts service for Yamaguchi Earth Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture. A satellite circuit is established between Japan and Europe.
1973 March KDD starts International Direct Dialing (IDD) service.
1974 July
KDD Building

An international communications center equipped with the newest communications technology
(current KDDI Building)

KDD Building is completed (Shinjuku, Tokyo)
1977 March KDD joins International Maritime Satellite Organization (INMARSAT).
1984 June Daini-Denden Planning Company is established.
November
Teleway Japan Corporation (TWJ) (TWJ)

Teleway Japan Corporation (TWJ) is established.

As of August 3, 2015

1985 April Implementation of Telecommunications Business Law (deregulation of the telecommunications industry)
1985 April
Logo: DDI

DDI CORPORATION (DDI) launches operations.

1986 March
Logo: TTNet

Tokyo Telecommunication Network Co., Inc. (TTNet) is established in Kanto as a regional telecommunications company.

October DDI begins Tokaido Route (Tokyo-Nagoya-Osaka) leased circuit service.
1987 March
Logo: IDO

NIPPON IDOU TSUSHIN CORPORATION is established.

June
Logo: KANSAI CELLULAR TELEPHONE COMPANY
KANSAI CELLULAR TELEPHONE COMPANY is established.
September DDI begins Domestic long-distance service along the Tokaido Route (Tokyo-Nagoya-Osaka).
October
Logo: KYUSHU CELLULAR TELEPHONE COMPANY
KYUSHU CELLULAR TELEPHONE COMPANY is established.
November
Logo: CHUGOKU CELLULAR TELEPHONE COMPANY
CHUGOKU CELLULAR TELEPHONE COMPANY is established.
1988 April
Logo: TOHOKU CELLULAR TELEPHONE COMPANY
TOHOKU CELLULAR TELEPHONE COMPANY is established.
May
Logo: HOKURIKU CELLULAR TELEPHONE COMPANY
HOKURIKU CELLULAR TELEPHONE COMPANY is established.
July
Logo: HOKKAIDO CELLULAR TELEPHONE COMPANY
HOKKAIDO CELLULAR TELEPHONE COMPANY is established.
December
Hi-Cap car phone

Hi-Cap car phone

IDO launches car telephone service using the Hi-Cap analog cellular system.

First emergence of a new car phone in the NTT dominated car phone market
1989 April
Discharging "TPC-3," the first submarine optical cable in the Pacific Ocean (Chikura, Chiba Prefecture)

Discharging "TPC-3," the first submarine optical cable in the Pacific Ocean (Chikura, Chiba Prefecture)

KDD starts service for No. 3 Trans Pacific Cable (TPC-3), the first submarine optical cable in the Pacific Ocean.

This 13,300 km cable connecting the Chikura Cable Landing Station - Guam - Hawaii - Mainland U.S.A. was the world's longest at the time.
Logo: SHIKOKU CELLULAR TELEPHONE COMPANY
SHIKOKU CELLULAR TELEPHONE COMPANY is established.
May
Hi-Cap handy phone

Hi-Cap handy phone

IDO launches Handy Phone Service (a compact lightweight cellular phone).

In addition to the traditional shoulder-type phones, a handy type small cellular phone. With its compact body that the user can hold with one hand, usage increased in the business arena.
July KANSAI CELLULAR begins TACS system.
1991 June
Logo: OKINAWA CELLULAR TELEPHONE COMPANY
OKINAWA CELLULAR TELEPHONE COMPANY is established.
July Tu-KA Cellular Tokyo Inc. is established.
October TU-KA Phone Kansai Inc. is established.
T-61

T-61

IDO launches TACS-based Service.

1992 February TU-KA Cellular Tokai Inc. is established.
December DDI completes national service network.
IDO and CELLULAR Group introduce TACS-based nationwide roaming and interconnection.
1993 September DDI is listed in the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
1994 April

Mobile phone customer purchase system begins.

The system wherein users purchase the mobile phone handsets that phone companies had been renting up until then. It eliminated the need for users to pay expensive deposits, and marked the beginning of popularity among younger users.
KANSAI CELLULAR launches Personal Digital Cellular (PDC) system.
June
T205

T205

IDO launches Personal Digital Cellular (PDC) system.

Text input limited to alphabet and katakana, with a monochrome liquid crystal display. The first mobile phone handsets did not have an email function. "Puchi mail" service started the next year in 1997.
November PHS enterprise DDI Pocket Telephone Group begins with nine companies.
1995 September DDI is listed in the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
1997 July DION Service is launched.
1998 December Kokusai Denshin Denwa Co., Ltd. (KDD) and Teleway Corp. merge to create KDD Corporation.
1999 April
Logo: cdmaOne

IDO and CELLULAR Group complete cdmaOne nationwide seamless network.

In addition to superior high-speed data transmission performance, this network is characterized by calls not breaking up and a marked improvement in replicating the natural voice of the speaker. These features linked to an increase in subscribers.
Logo: EZweb
C201H

C201H

IDO and CELLULAR Group launch Mobile Internet Connection Service EZweb.

2000 January The nine companies of the DDI Pocket Telephone Group merge.
July IDO and CELLULAR Group launch "au," a uniform nationwide mobile communications brand.

As of April, 2018

2000 October
Image: KDDI is born

KDDI is born (October 2, 2000, KDDI Building)

DDI CORPORATION, KDD Corporation and IDO CORPORATION merge and form a new company. The trade name of the new entity is DDI CORPORATION, and it operates under the new KDDI corporate brand.
Logo: KDDI
November
Logo: au
The seven companies of the CELLULAR Group merge to launch au CORPORATION.
2001 April Corporate name is changed to KDDI CORPORATION.
May MYLINE carrier selection service is launched.
October au COPORATION is merged with KDDI CORPORATION.
Logo: POWERDCOM
Regional telecommunications companies TTNet, Osaka Media Port (OMP), and Chubu Telecommunications Co. (CTC) spin off their business data telecommunications services to launch POWERDCOM, Inc.
2002 March
C3003P

C3003P

GPS mobile is released as the first mobile phone equipped with an "electric compass."

Equipping mobile phones with a compass enabled a screen display that acts just like a car navigation displayer to make the map rotate automatically so the direction of movement is always oriented to the top of the screen when displaying a map while on the move.
April
Logo: CDMA2000 1x

Third-generation (3G) mobile phone service (CDMA2000 1x) is launched.

Previous cdmaOne models had a maximum transmission speed of only 64 kbps. The CDMA2000 1x increased the maximum speed to up to 144 kbps.
December
Logo: Chaku-uta(R)

"Chaku-uta(R)" music download service is launched.

This was the world's first service allowing users to download the original CD sound source to their mobile phone and set it as the ring tone.
2003 April TTNet and POWEREDCOM merge under the POWERDCOM name.
October
Logo: KDDI Hikari Plus

KDDI Hikari Plus (now au Hikari), a suite of optical fiber-based services, is launched.

This enabled usage of the internet, phone, and TV all with one optic fiber.
"EZ NaviWalk" navigation service for pedestrians is launched.
November
Logo: CDMA 1X WIN

CDMA 1X WIN, an enhanced 3G mobile phone service based on CDMA2000 1xEV-DO technology, is launched.

This introduced the first packet fixed rate system for mobile phones (called "EZ Flat" at the time, and currently known as "Double-Teigaku").
INFOBAR

INFOBAR

Sales of "INFOBAR," the first model from the au design project, begin.
In order to create mobile phones with features based on completely new ideas crafted in an environment that encourages freedom in concept creation, KDDI launched the au design project in 2001. In collaboration with product designer Naoto Fukasawa, the first phase of this project saw the creation of a completely new kind of mobile phone: INFOBAR. This led to au's new mobile product brand "iida" in April 2009.

2004 October DDI Pocket Telephone business is transferred to the Carlyle Group and Kyocera.
November "Chaku-uta Full(R)" is launched.
2005 February
Logo: KDDI Metal Plus

The high-quality IP telephone service "KDDI Metal Plus" is launched.

The direct access model IP phone service: "KDDI Metal Plus." This new high-quality phone service enables an inexpensive basic fee and calling fee. Also, subscribers can use an internet connection service.
October
Logo: TU-KA by KDDI
TU-KA Cellular Tokyo Inc., TU-KA Cellular Tokai Inc., and TU-KA Phone Kansai Inc. are merged.
Agreement reached on comprehensive cooperation on communications business with the Tokyo Electric Power Co. Group.
December
W33SA

W33SA

Sales of the world's first 1seg-compatible mobile phone begin.

A quality TV service only available with a mobile phone that combines TV broadcast viewing and a communications function also incorporated "1seg" compatibility. In addition to providing clear video and audio, this model lets users enjoy receiving data broadcasts that contain a variety of information about TV programs.
2006 January KDDI merges with POWEREDCOM.
Logo: LISMO!
W41S

W41S

The comprehensive music service "LISMO" is launched.

The communication industry's first comprehensive music service "au LISTEN MOBILE SERVICE" (abbreviation: LISMO) allows users to seamlessly connect au mobile phones and computers. 2008 saw the startup of "LISMO Video," a service that allows users to watch whole movies and TV dramas with high video and audio quality anytime, anyplace on both au mobile phones and computers. The mascot character "LISMO" also became extremely popular.
March Shares of JAPAN CABLENET HOLDINGS and JPAN CABLENET (JCN) are acquired.
May Mobile Net Bank Establishment Investigation Corp. (Now au Jibun Bank) is established.
June
Logo: HIKARI-one
"HIKARI-one" integrated FTTH services is launched.
October Mobile number portability (MNP) is launched.
December
W47T

W47T

"EV-DO Rev.A," an upgraded version of "CDMA2000 1xEV-DO" is adopted.

This upgrade actualized the fastest transmission speed in Japan, with a maximum uplink speed of 1.8 Mbps and downlink speed of 3.1 Mbps. Most important, it reduced the stress of uploading items like email with images.
2007 January FTTH business integrates with Tokyo Electric Power Co.
June JCN Group becomes a KDDI consolidated subsidiary.
September The "au one" integrated portal for mobile phones and computers is launched.
2008 January
Logo: au Smart Sports Run&Walk
Sportio

Sportio

"au Smart Sports Run&Walk" service startup
A new service that seamlessly links au mobile phones and computers to provide users with a new way of enjoying sports

March TU-KA service ends.
Converted Wireless Broadband Planning Inc. to an operating company, setting the stage to launch UQ Communications Inc.
April CTC shares are purchased, and it becomes a consolidated subsidiary.
July "Jibun Bank (Now au Jibun Bank)," the mobile network bank jointly established with the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, begins service.
August "au Collective Talk," which provides free domestic calling between au mobile phones and KDDI fixed telephones, is launched.
October HIKARI-one Home "Giga Value Plan" with speeds up to 1 Gbps is launched.
2009 February
Logo: UQ WiMAX

UQ Communications begins the UQ WiMAX broadband communication service using mobile WiMAX technology.

April
Logo: iida

The new au mobile phone brand "iida" is announced.

July UQ Communications launches UQ WiMAX commercial service.
2010 February
Photo: Capital participation in Jupiter Telecommunications Co., Ltd. (J:COM) (now JCOM Co., Ltd.).
Capital participation in Jupiter Telecommunications Co., Ltd. (J:COM) (now JCOM Co., Ltd.).
July
Planning company for delivery of electronic books (now booklista) established with Sony, Toppan Printing, and The Asahi Shimbun Co.
2011 February KDDI Matomete Office Corporation is established.
May au Insurance, mobile phone based general insurance established jointly by KDDI and Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance, begins service.
October Sales of "iPhone 4S" (made by Apple Inc.) begin.
2012 January
Photo: au brand logo
au brand logo is reinvented.
March "au Smart Value" and "au Smart Pass" are launched.
September Sales of "iPhone 5" (made by Apple Inc.) begin.
"au 4G LTE," the next-generation LTE standard for high-speed communication, is launched.
2013 April "KDDI Matomete Office" is launched nationwide.
September Sales of "iPhone 5s/5c" (made by Apple Inc.) begin.
December "au Smart Value mine" is launched.
2014 March Achieved an actual population coverage ratio of 99% for "platinum band" 800MHz "4G LTE"
April Management merger between J:COM and JCN
May "au WALLET" service is launched.
Sales of smartphones cable of both "LTE-Advanced (CA)" and "WiMAX 2+" begin.
July Entered into agreement and commenced joint business with Myanma Posts and Telecommunications (MPT).
August The new au "the Unlimited Voice & Data Freedom rate plan" is launched.
Establishes the KDDI VALUE ENABLER CORPORATION
September "iPhone 6" and "iPhone 6 Plus" (made by Apple Inc.) begin.
October Begins issuing the "au WALLET Credit Card"
December "au VoLTE," a next-generation voice call service, is launched.
2015 August "au WALLET Market" service is launched.
2016 April "au Denki" electricity supply service is launched.
"au Insurance & Loans" financial service is launched.
August "au STAR" membership program is launched.
2017 January Acquired BIGLOBE Inc.
July New rate plans "au Pitatto Plan" and "au Flat Plan" are launched.
"au HOME" IoT service for households is launched.
August SORACOM, INC. becomes a consolidated subsidiary.
2018 January AEON Holdings Corporation of Japan becomes a consolidated subsidiary.
IoT communication service "KDDI IoT Connect LPWA" is launched.
September "KDDI DIGITAL GATE," a digital business development site, has opened in Tokyo (Toranomon).
2019 February Midway bank holding company "au Financial Holdings Corporation" is established. Initiated the SmartMoney concept.
April Smartphone payment service "au PAY" is launched.
May Renewed the brand slogan "KDDI: Tomorrow, Together," "au: Explore the extraordinary."
July "au Data MAX Plan," the first unlimited data plan in Japan, is launched.
2020 March "au 5G", Fifth-Generation Mobile Communication Service, was launched.
May au Point service was integrated into the common point service"Ponta".
October UQ Communications Inc.'s "UQ mobile" business was integrated.
2021 March Online-only brand "povo" was launched. Multi-brand strategy was reinforced.
November Service monitoring system using Operations Automation function was implemented in both Tokyo and Osaka.
2022 March 3G mobile phone service "CDMA 1X WIN" was terminated.
April Intermediate holding company "au Energy Holdings Corporation" was established.
May Intermediate holding company "KDDI Digital Divergence Holdings Corporation" was established.
"KDDI VISION 2030" was formulated.