Rakuten Mobile is not recommended for everyone? An employee explains the reality of signal strength and pros and cons in Ibaraki

1. Introduction: Make smart choices rather than unreasonable savings

I want to reduce my communication costs, but I don't want to regret it because the signal is poor.

I totally understand that anxiety.

To be honest, Rakuten Mobile isn't the right answer for everyone.

It may seem strange for me to say this as an employee, but depending on where you live and how you use it,

There are certainly some people who would be happier if they chose another company.

In this article, we will introduce the actual radio wave conditions in Ibaraki (Tsukuba, Moriya, Mito, etc.)

We will tell you, without any bias, how much you need to spend per month to truly save money.

2. [Ibaraki's radio waves] Honestly, this is a weak point

The introduction of the "Platinum Band" is progressing, but it is not yet perfect.

Living in Ibaraki, I share the "blind spots in the radio waves" that are a real pain for me as an employee.

Difficult places and areas

• "Department store basements" and "inner corners of large commercial facilities" in Tsukuba and Mito :

  In the basement around TX Tsukuba Station and in the back of Aeon Mall,

  It may still be difficult to get a signal.

• Moriya/Toride commuter train (Joban Line/TX) :

  There are occasional moments when the video freezes when switching between stations.

• Farmland and mountainous areas :

  The density of base stations is still low in areas north of Mito and in the open farmland in the west of the prefecture.

3. The destructive power of "Rakuten Points +4x" and the break-even point

On the other hand, for those who use the Rakuten economic sphere,

The point rewards offered by the "Strongest Plan" are a benefit that cannot be ignored.

When you shop at Rakuten Ichiba, you will get "4x points"

We have created a table showing how much you need to use it to get close to being "effectively free."

Monthly spending on Rakuten Market	Earned points (+4x)	Image of allocation to Rakuten Mobile monthly fees
30,000 yen	1,200 points	If it's less than 3GB (1,078 yen), it's effectively 0 yen
50,000 yen	2,000 points	Less than 20GB (2,178 yen) is practically 0 yen
80,000 yen	3,200 points	Unlimited (3,278 yen) is effectively 0 yen

*Prices shown include tax.

"Buying for the sake of points" is putting the cart before the horse,

If you consolidate your daily necessities and hometown tax payments on Rakuten, your communication costs will automatically go down.

4. Comparing with other companies reveals who should not choose Rakuten

Just between you and me, if the following applies to you, it would be less stressful to choose ahamo or UQ mobile.

• For those who say, "A stable signal is the most important thing" :

  If you often travel underground or into mountainous areas for work, Docomo's ahamo network is the best option.

• Those who require "generous support from a store" :

  Although the number of Rakuten stores has increased, it still does not reach the comprehensiveness of UQ or Y!Mobile.

Comparison Summary

• Rakuten Mobile : Unlimited data usage and shopping on Rakuten.

• ahamo : 20GB is enough, I want the peace of mind of being able to connect anywhere.

• UQ/Y!mobile : Family discounts and fiber optic line set discounts are already available.

5. The "entry order" trap to avoid failure

This is the most important part.

Rakuten Mobile has several **campaigns that cannot be used together**.

A common mistake is applying through random advertisements,

This is a case where you miss out on the 10,000 points you were supposed to receive .

3 steps to avoid losses

1. Pre-entry : Check if there is a dedicated page for Rakuten Card members or bank members.

2. Utilizing referral URLs : Going through links such as employee referrals is the most reliable and has the highest return rate.

3. Using Rakuten Link : After activation, don't forget to make a call using the app for at least 10 seconds.

6. Summary: Save on communication costs and enjoy Ibaraki cuisine

If you can reduce your communication costs by 3,000 yen per month, that will be 36,000 yen per year.

With this, you can go around Tsukuba's delicious bakeries,

You can enjoy a slightly luxurious Hitachi beef lunch in Mito.

Just stop paying high fees for no reason.

I want you to experience the joy of having more money to spend freely .

First, check whether your living area (home and workplace) is within the area.

Start by checking the official website.