Telecom Square announces the launch of "WiFiBOX," an "unprecedented Wi-Fi rental" service that allows users to rent a mobile Wi-Fi router easily and contactlessly for 840 yen per day (price including tax, unlimited/Japan plan) at the "Creation Square Shibuya (Shibuya Ward Tourism Association)" in Shibuya Mark City. We are pleased to announce that "WiFiBOX," an "unprecedented Wi-Fi rental service" that allows users to easily rent a mobile Wi-Fi router without contact, will begin service at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at Creation Square Shibuya (Shibuya City Tourism Association) in Shibuya Mark City.
WiFiBOX" is a new Wi-Fi rental service released on April 1, 2022, and is a sharing type service that allows users to immediately reserve, receive, and start using Wi-Fi without prior reservations (patent pending). The Japan domestic plan allows unlimited use for 840 yen per day (tax included), and the terminal includes a cable for charging and a mobile battery function that can also be used to charge smartphones.
The service was awarded the Good Design Award for 2022 in recognition of its service design, which has been highly evaluated for its multiple benefits, including meeting the non-personal needs of the Corona Disaster, eliminating complicated procedures and queues for users, reducing operating costs, and securing extra space at the installation location.
People tend to think that renting a mobile Wi-Fi router is only for use when traveling overseas. However, in Japan, in addition to use by foreign visitors to Japan, demand is expected to increase in a variety of situations, including business trips, telework and sightseeing, as well as temporary use such as running out of giga at the end of the month, hospitalization, moving, and as a "sub-line" in emergency situations such as large-scale communication failures. The demand for this service is expected to increase in various situations.
Currently, the service is available at major airports nationwide, including Narita, Haneda, and Kansai International Airports, as well as in city centers and commercial facilities such as Tokyo Station, Shinjuku Tourist Information Center, and Shinjuku Milod, and is widely used in Japan and abroad. In order to meet the needs of foreign visitors to Japan as well as domestic users for business, sightseeing, and gigabit shortages, the service will now be available at Creation Square Shibuya, the first installation in the Shibuya area. This brings the total number of WiFiBOX installations to 12 facilities and 17 locations. In addition to the citywide deployment, including the Shibuya area, we will continue to install WiFiBOXes at train stations and airports in Japan, aiming to further improve customer convenience.
Features of Shibuya area and Shibuya Mark City and background of installation
Shibuya Station is a major terminal station in Japan, served by a large number of train lines, including JR lines, and a total of nine train lines, including Narita Express. In addition, the entire Shibuya area is undergoing large-scale redevelopment, and its dizzying evolution has made it a popular tourist destination worldwide, ranking third in destination and city searches by foreign visitors to Japan.
Shibuya Mark City, where Creation Square Shibuya is located, boasts approximately 1 million visitors per month, and many foreign visitors to Japan come to the nearby hotels and facilities. There is also an expressway bus and limousine bus terminal, and limousine buses to Haneda Airport run more than 15 times a day.
The decision to set up this facility was based on the belief that it will lead to further improvements in convenience, as it will be in demand from overseas travelers who wish to pick up their luggage before departure, for temporary use for sightseeing or business, and for lending and picking up luggage in Tokyo as well, even across regional boundaries.
Source: Travel Voice https://www.travelvoice.jp/20230303-153065
Outline of Installation
Location
Creation Square SHIBUYA (Shibuya City Tourism Association)
1-12-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Shibuya Mark City WEST MALL Avenue Street 4F
Usage Fees
Within Japan 840 yen per day (price including tax, unlimited use)
*500MB/440 yen (including tax) and 1GB/660 yen (including tax) plans per day are also available.
Business hours
Weekdays, weekends and holidays 9:00 - 23:00
Web site
https://www.s-markcity.co.jp/floor/w-4-29/
Features and usage of "WiFiBOX
Need it now! When you need it, you can rent it immediately without making a reservation (*1). Reservation, receiving, and returning are all incredibly easy. Our service design has been highly evaluated and received the Good Design Award for 2022.
*1: Advance reservations are available, but please be sure to check availability on-site before pulling out.
Wi-Fi and mobile battery in a single unit
In addition to a USB cable for charging the main unit, three types of cables are built in for charging smartphones. Can also be used as a mobile battery.
Official HP
https://wifibox.telecomsquare.co.jp/
WiFiBOX" Application Examples in Japan
Wi-Fi rentals have a strong image of being rented when traveling abroad, but there are many situations in Japan where they can be used temporarily, such as in new lives, for business, for sightseeing, in places without a Wi-Fi environment, or when running out of giga at the end of the month.
(1) When moving to a new house
An Internet environment is essential at home, but when you move, it may become temporarily unavailable due to contractual restrictions. In such cases, WiFiBOX can be used on a daily basis without worrying about the amount of traffic.
(2) During hospitalization
According to a survey by a private organization, as of 2021, only about 20% of national hospitals and other important regional hospitals will have free Wi-Fi available in all hospital rooms. This provides an important infrastructure of an Internet environment that creates a connection to the outside world during hospitalization.
See: https://wifi4all.jpn.org/hospital/index.php
(3) On a moving train
You can use WiFiBOX's stable communication environment for stress-free PC work and video viewing while traveling on business or on vacation.
(4) While sightseeing and in shortage of giga at the end of the month
Nowadays, traveling is also a smartphone necessity. You can collect information and send/receive photos and videos without worrying about running out of giga at the end of the month. In addition, the battery function is perfect for recharging your smartphone.
(5) In case of trouble such as communication failure
The large-scale communication failure that became a hot topic the other day. The need to acquire a "sub-line" has risen, but Wi-Fi rental is recommended for emergency or temporary needs.
Reference
Approximate communication volume when using major chat tools and video sites for one hour (based on our research)
| Tool | Communication volume per hour |
|---|---|
| Zoom | Approx. 500MB |
| Microsoft teams | Approx. 1.3GB |
| Skype | Approx. 290MB |
| Google meets | about 820MB |
| Youtube(HD) | about 1GB |
| Netflix(HD) | Approx. 3GB |
| Amazon prime(HD) | About 1.8GB |
| LINE (video call) | Approx. 310MB |
| LINE (voice call) | Approx. 20MB |
In addition, with 1GB, you can send approximately 330,000 LINE "Talk" messages, 140,000 "Send Stamp" messages, 8,800 standard-definition images, and 166 30-second videos.
