Quick Answer
NTT DoCoMo is Japan’s largest mobile operator with 91.91 million subscribers and 70% 5G population coverage. NTT West is a regional fiber provider serving western Japan with the FLET’S Hikari brand at up to 10 Gbps. These are sibling companies under NTT Group - DoCoMo for mobile, NTT West for home fiber.
Side-by-Side Comparison
NTT DoCoMo and NTT West are NTT Group companies serving different functions in western Japan.
| Feature | NTT DoCoMo | NTT West |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mobile operator | Regional fiber provider |
| Subscribers | 91.91 million (mobile) | 11 million (fiber) |
| Service Area | Nationwide Japan | Western Japan only |
| Technology | 5G, 4G LTE | FTTH (FLET’S Hikari) |
| Max Speed | 4.2 Gbps (5G) | 10 Gbps (FLET’S Hikari) |
| Standard Fiber | Via FLET’S partnership | 1-10 Gbps |
| Mobile Service | Yes | No |
Test NTT DoCoMo speed | Test NTT West speed
Speed Comparison
NTT West’s FLET’S Hikari fiber provides up to 10 Gbps for home broadband. Standard plans deliver 1 Gbps symmetric. This exceeds any mobile connection for sustained throughput and low latency.
NTT DoCoMo’s 5G peaks at 4.2 Gbps but real-world mobile averages sit at 100-300 Mbps. Mobile networks cannot replace fiber for heavy home usage like 4K streaming on multiple devices or large file transfers.
Western Japan users typically combine both services. NTT West fiber handles home broadband. NTT DoCoMo handles mobile connectivity outside the home.
Run a speed test to measure your current connection.
Coverage
NTT DoCoMo covers all of Japan with mobile service. Its 70% 5G population coverage includes all major western Japanese cities - Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka.
NTT West covers western Japan only. The territory includes Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, and all prefectures west of central Honshu. Eastern Japan (Tokyo, Hokkaido) falls under NTT East’s territory.
FLET’S Hikari fiber reaches most urban and suburban addresses in NTT West’s area. Older buildings may have VDSL connections with slower speeds. Rural western Japan may lack fiber entirely.
Which Should You Choose?
These services complement each other rather than compete. NTT West provides home broadband. NTT DoCoMo provides mobile. Most western Japan households benefit from both.
DoCoMo Hikari bundles NTT West’s fiber infrastructure under DoCoMo billing with a discount. This is the simplest way to get both mobile and fiber from the NTT family.
For standalone fiber without a DoCoMo mobile plan, signing up directly with NTT West may be cheaper. Compare au Hikari as an alternative fiber provider in western Japan.
Summary
NTT DoCoMo and NTT West are complementary NTT Group services for western Japan. DoCoMo handles mobile (91.91M subs nationwide). NTT West handles fiber broadband (11M subs, up to 10 Gbps). Bundle both through DoCoMo Hikari for the best value.
Test your connection at Kencang speed test and check the Japan internet overview for all options.
Last Updated: March 28, 2026 Data Sources: TCA Japan subscriber data, NTT Group press releases