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You may not need another internet contract even when installation work is not allowed in your rental. If the connection already provided by the building or tethering on your current phone is enough, you can keep using it.
If you do need another connection, compare options that fit where and how you will use them, and estimate the payments through your move-out date. This guide compares UQ WiMAX, Docomo home 5G, Rakuten Mobile, and tethering on an existing phone for people staying one or two years in a rental where installation is not possible. The lowest price does not mean the best connection for your room.
In the model below, Rakuten WiFi Pocket Platinum with the Rakuten SAIKYO Plan is the first cost option to examine when you use more than 20 GB each month and want to limit cash spending. It has the lowest subtotal in both the 12- and 24-month examples, but only under the stated start date, one-time device payment, and data-use assumptions. Family discounts and other discounts are excluded because the reader's eligibility is not established. Check the device and service conditions against your actual locations before choosing it.
First check whether you need another contract and whether a service fits
If the cost, signup steps, return rules, or permission for installation of the building's “free internet” are unclear, ask the property manager before applying. For questions about the building's equipment, see What to check before signing up for internet in a rental. For a way to narrow down the connection type, see How to choose between fiber, a home router, and mobile Wi-Fi.
| Option and why it is included | What to check about location, data, and devices |
|---|---|
| UQ WiMAX L13: an option mainly for home use | This home router needs a power outlet. UQ also describes using it at another location when connected to power. Do not apply Docomo home 5G's registered-address restriction to it. Check coverage and indoor reception at every location where you plan to use it. |
| UQ WiMAX DOCK 5G 01: an option for home and travel | This is a mobile router. Even at the same UQ price as the L13, battery life, charging, and compatibility with connected devices differ. The Standard Mode of Gigahodai Plus S has no monthly data cap, but UQ may control speeds for heavy use, congestion, or other reasons. |
| home 5G HR02: an option for use at its registered home address | It cannot be used outside its registered installation address. When moving, you must change the address and check reception at the new home. It requires the HR02 and the home 5G plan; select the device when checking coverage. Data is described as unlimited, but heavy use over the latest three days, congestion, and other conditions may reduce speed. |
| Rakuten WiFi Pocket Platinum: a portable option | This is a 4G LTE device, not a 5G device. Check the nanoSIM requirement and the supported operating systems for Wi-Fi and USB connections. Check reception at the places in Japan where you will use it, as well as possible speed controls during congestion and the need to charge it. |
| Tethering on your current phone: an option without another line | Check whether your current plan allows tethering, the combined data use of the phone and connected devices, battery drain, heat, and compatibility with your computer. Tethering on ahamo is available at no extra charge within its available data allowance, but conditions differ by provider. |
Keep UQ's Standard Mode separate from Plus Area Mode. Plus Area Mode is not included in the cost tables. It generally costs ¥1,100 per month, and use above 30 GB in a month is limited to a maximum of 128 kbps. Do not subtract a set discount unless you have confirmed that you qualify. See UQ plan and speed controls, coverage map, and UQ home router use.
A registered-address restriction and service coverage are separate checks. Even inside a coverage area, indoor reception may not be stable. Test the connection where and when you need it for meetings, gaming, or large file uploads. Do not treat an advertised maximum speed as a measured speed or latency. See home 5G use conditions, Rakuten device specifications, and ahamo tethering conditions.
How the 12- and 24-month periods are counted
These are reference calculations using the listed plan, device, and discount conditions. On October 19, 2026, I rechecked UQ, Docomo, and Rakuten signup and price conditions, the announced ahamo price change for December 2026, and Rakuten's data-price tiers and device offer on official pages. Point conditions and surcharges were separately checked on October 8 and official notices were checked again on October 11. These figures do not establish your actual contract or future bills. The application channels are fixed to the UQ online shop, Docomo online shop, and Rakuten Mobile official website; offers from agents or stores are not mixed in.
The example assumes the device purchase, a new personal contract, and billing start all occur on November 1, 2026. November is month 1. The 12-month example cancels on October 31, 2027, and the 24-month example cancels on October 31, 2028. Counting 12 billing months is not the same as waiting until a full year has passed. The 12-month example includes an early cancellation fee of ¥1,100 for Docomo and ¥1,078 for Rakuten. Both are ¥0 in the 24-month example. See Docomo cancellation conditions and Rakuten cancellation conditions.
If purchase, delivery, or activation dates differ, do not use these dates; recalculate with the actual dates. UQ starts billing 10 days after shipment even if you do not complete the activation steps. For a new Rakuten contract, the earlier of the service start date and the date Rakuten receives delivery-completion data starts billing. Do not assume you can postpone the start date indefinitely. See UQ online shop terms and Rakuten price list.
The model assumes each device is paid in full, with no optional warranty, calling add-on, or similar option, and assumes credit-card payment and online billing. It excludes discounts on a phone plan, family discounts, calls and SMS, and cancellation or removal costs for an old service. Add them to your own estimate if they apply. For Rakuten, the model assumes you already own a compatible charger and cable. Neither is included with the router; if you need to buy one, add its actual price once to each relevant 12- and 24-month subtotal.
If you choose Rakuten WiFi Pocket Platinum and need a compatible AC charger, first check the router's instructions and your existing equipment. You can check the model and specifications for the MOTTERU AC charger MOT-ACPD35WU1 at Rakuten Ichiba. It is an AC charger only. If you lack a USB-C cable, check the router's connector and requirements, then choose a compatible cable separately. You do not need to buy a charger if you already have a compatible one, choose another connection, or cannot confirm that your equipment is suitable. If you buy one, add the price at the time of purchase once to each applicable subtotal. The linked price, stock, and shipping terms can change, so check the listing before buying.
| Input | UQ L13 / DOCK | home 5G HR02 | Rakuten Platinum + voice-enabled SAIKYO Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price before discounts | ¥5,280 | ¥5,280 | ¥3,278 in the example using over 20 GB each month |
| Initial fee | ¥3,300 | ¥0 online | ¥0 through the fourth cumulative line; add ¥3,850 from the fifth line onward |
| Device price: no offer / if offer conditions are met | ¥33,220 / ¥11,880 | ¥73,260 / ¥73,260 | ¥10,820 / ¥1 |
| Partial-month plan fee | Prorated in the first and cancellation months | First month prorated; cancellation month is not | Not prorated in the first or cancellation month; billed by actual monthly data tier |
UQ values use the L13 application page, DOCK application page, and UQ discount breakdown. Docomo values use home 5G prices and purchase terms. Rakuten values use device and offer terms and the official price list.
Reference subtotals without benefits and if conditions are met
Each subtotal adds the initial fee, plan fees, full device price, and normal cancellation fee, then subtracts only discounts that qualify. “No benefits” is a comparison calculated before discounts; it does not mean you can choose to remove a discount at the same application channel.
12-month example: cancel on October 31, 2027
| Official channel option | No benefits | If conditions are met |
|---|---|---|
| UQ L13 | ¥99,880 + surcharges | ¥70,356 + surcharges |
| UQ DOCK 5G 01 | ¥99,880 + surcharges | ¥70,356 + surcharges |
| home 5G HR02 | ¥137,720 + surcharges | ¥122,410 + surcharges |
| Rakuten Platinum, over 20 GB per month | ¥51,234 + surcharges | ¥40,415 + surcharges |
24-month example: cancel on October 31, 2028
| Official channel option | No benefits | If conditions are met |
|---|---|---|
| UQ L13 | ¥163,240 + surcharges | ¥133,034 + surcharges |
| UQ DOCK 5G 01 | ¥163,240 + surcharges | ¥133,034 + surcharges |
| home 5G HR02 | ¥199,980 + surcharges | ¥166,370 + surcharges |
| Rakuten Platinum, over 20 GB per month | ¥89,492 + surcharges | ¥78,673 + surcharges |
Surcharges differ by provider and month, so these are not final bill totals. Add the applicable universal-service, telephone relay, and broadband universal-service (BB) fees and the tax rounding on the bill separately. The checks made on October 8, 2026 found:
| Provider and published rate/period | What still needs checking for this model |
|---|---|
| UQ: telephone fee ¥2.2/month from January 2026 usage; relay fee ¥1.1/month from April 2026 through March 2027; BB fee ¥2.2 only for March 2026 usage. The applicable line is based on having an active line at month end. | The relay fee for fiscal 2027 onward was expected to be announced around March 2027. The BB fee from January 2027 onward is unknown. Do not treat even the telephone fee as fixed throughout 12 or 24 months. |
| Docomo: telephone fee ¥2.2/month as of January 2026; current relay fee ¥1.1/month, generally prorated for a partial month; BB fee ¥2.2 only for March 2026 usage. home 5G also has telephone and relay fees. | The published relay rate began in April 2025 and is conditional on no change from fiscal 2026 onward. The BB amount and applicable months from 2027 onward will be announced later. Recheck before applying. |
| Rakuten: its price list shows a telephone fee of ¥2.2/month from January 2026 usage, a relay fee of ¥1.1/month from April 2025 usage, and a BB fee of ¥2.2 only for March 2026 usage. | The relay rate remains the same after April 2026 only if it is not changed. The BB amount and start period from 2027 onward are unknown. Telephone, BB, and relay fees are not charged in the cancellation month, so do not add them for every month. |
See UQ universal-service and BB fees, UQ relay fee, Docomo universal-service and BB fees, Docomo relay announcement, home 5G important information, Rakuten price list, Rakuten BB announcement, Rakuten relay announcement, and Rakuten cancellation-month rules.
The November start in this model does not overlap with the BB fee charged only for March 2026 use. That does not establish that BB fees after the following year will be ¥0. Separate the months covered by current published terms from later changes or unpublished periods, and estimate using your contract and billing terms.
Use these formulas to check the calculation. N is 12 or 24 months; all amounts include tax.
- UQ without benefits: 3,300 + 33,220 + 5,280 × N. If eligible, 12 months: 3,300 + 11,880 + 4,598 × 12; 24 months: 3,300 + 11,880 + 4,598 × 13 + 5,280 × 11.
- Docomo without benefits: 73,260 + 5,280 × N + any early cancellation fee. If eligible, subtract ¥15,310 over 12 months or ¥33,610 over 24 months in monthly support. It starts the month after purchase, and no support is counted in the cancellation month.
- Rakuten without benefits: 10,820 + 3,278 × N + any early cancellation fee. If eligible, replace the device price with ¥1. Do not also subtract the ¥10,819 purchase discount. Replace the plan price in each month with ¥1,078 for use up to 3 GB or ¥2,178 for use above 3 GB and up to 20 GB.
Add your surcharges and any charger, old-service, or other required costs to each formula. Rakuten use above 20 GB each month and existing tethering that stays within its allowance are not confirmed to serve the same usage.
Separate offer timing from device payments after moving out
| Benefit used in the calculation | Conditions, timing, continuation, and combination |
|---|---|
| UQ Otoku Discount + WiMAX +5G discount | A ¥21,340 discount at purchase requires an eligible device and a new eligible plan. Both application forms also list a monthly discount. For 13 months from the eligible plan month, ¥682 is deducted each month, prorated for a partial month. Other promotions may not combine; do not add an agent's separate reward. |
| Docomo monthly support | Requires an HR02 purchase and a new home 5G plan; it also applies to a one-time device purchase. It starts the month after purchase, for up to 48 months: ¥1,585 in the first month, then ¥1,525. It ends when cancellation occurs. This model counts 10 discounts in the 12-month example and 22 in the 24-month example. |
| Rakuten device offer 2808 | Requires a Rakuten member to apply for the eligible plan and device together, with the discount shown on the application screen. One device per person. The data-only plan and people who received offers 1875, 2763, or 3130 are excluded. Three or more line cancellations since April 8, 2020 also make the applicant ineligible. Do not add other campaigns except campaign 1977, which is stated as combinable. This model has no calling add-on. |
UQ and Rakuten device discounts are counted at purchase. UQ and Docomo monthly discounts are counted only in billing months when their conditions are met. This model does not include cash rebates paid later. See when Docomo monthly support ends.
Keep Docomo's 15,000 points separate from cash spending. The official offer, which began July 1, 2026, requires no separate application and applies when HR02 is purchased with a new home 5G plan through the Docomo online shop, or when upgrading to HR02. You must still have the contract at the end of the second month after the service start or device-change month, and be a d POINT Club member on that line when the points are issued.
The points are issued to the home 5G d Account in the fourth month after the start or device-change month and expire at the end of the sixth month including the issue month. Applied to a November start in this model, the continuation check is January 31, 2027, the expected issue month is March 2027, and the points would expire at the end of August 2027. This is a schedule based on current terms, not a guarantee that the offer will continue or that you will receive the points.
Limited-use points can be used at participating stores or for eligible Docomo charges, but cannot be exchanged for JAL miles and similar rewards. They cannot be used directly through d払い from the home 5G account; Docomo describes account integration or point transfer procedures. If applying points to charges, check the line-specific application, excluded charges, processing date, and expiration. See conditions for applying points to charges.
The offer terms reviewed did not establish whether the points can be combined with monthly support or other promotions in every case. Do not add another channel's offer or a repayment benefit for an old line. Confirm combination at the official channel if needed. Do not treat 15,000 points as ¥15,000 in cash or deduct them from the subtotal; the amount actually used is unknown.
The tables assume the device is paid in full, so no device balance remains when canceling. However, receiving all 48 months of home 5G monthly support requires 49 months including the purchase month. Canceling after 12 or 24 months ends future discounts; it does not refund the one-time purchase. The ¥57,950 / ¥39,650 obtained by subtracting the discounts already applied in this model from ¥73,260 is an illustration of the remaining device burden, not unpaid device debt.
If you pay in installments, check that “amount already paid + remaining balance = total device price.” For the discounted UQ device at ¥11,880, 36 installments are ¥330 each. Billing starts in the second month after the contract month, so 10 installments (¥3,300) have been billed by month 12, leaving ¥8,580; by month 24, 22 installments (¥7,260) have been billed, leaving ¥4,620. Each pair totals ¥11,880. Adding those payments again after including the full device price would count the device twice. See UQ payment terms and installment payments after cancellation.
For Docomo and Rakuten installments, use the contract to check the billing start month and number of payments, then verify paid and unpaid amounts. Rakuten installments may have a card-based fee, so the one-time-purchase table does not apply as-is. Check actual statements for differences between withdrawal and billing months and for unpaid amounts.
Get estimates for the same 12- or 24-month conditions
The subtotals assume the stated start month, data use, payment method, and benefit conditions. When applying, use the same plan, device, application channel, service start date, and expected cancellation month for each estimate. Keep the amount without benefits and list a benefit separately only after confirming that you meet its conditions.
Until November 30, 2026, ahamo normally includes 30 GB, and the Oomori option adds 110 GB for ¥1,980 per month. Oomori ends on that date. From December 1, 2026, ahamo has announced a tiered plan from 40 GB for ¥3,135 to 120 GB for ¥5,115. Do not assume the old Oomori option continues throughout a 12- or 24-month comparison. Calculate the plan-price change and any tethering-related costs month by month. See ahamo prices and data allowances and the announced change and data-cap settings.
If you expect to use more than 20 GB per month, compare your current line, tethering, and a new contract for the same purpose and period. If you have not confirmed whether the building connection is sufficient or whether your current plan has enough tethering data, do not enter ¥0 in the comparison table. Check the actual service and contract, then recalculate. For choosing a connection type, see How to choose between fiber, a home router, and mobile Wi-Fi.
Docomo monthly support is a 48-month discount, but receiving all of it requires keeping the contract for 49 months including the purchase month. Any remaining discounts end after cancellation. The one-time device-purchase table has no unpaid device balance. For installment purchases, count each paid amount and remaining balance only once. Do not deduct points from actual cash spending, and do not include a benefit in the eligible calculation until its combination conditions are confirmed.
Do not rank surcharges or benefits excluded from the subtotal as ¥0. Before applying, confirm them with the official channel using the service start date, intended cancellation month, device model, and application channel. Add the monthly fee, device price, cancellation cost, surcharge months, and billed amount to your estimate.
If you expect Docomo's 15,000 points in your estimate, check whether a simultaneous new HR02 contract and purchase qualifies, whether the line must remain active through the end of the second month after the start month, and the recipient, issue timing, and expiration. The campaign page and monthly-support page alone do not confirm that both benefits apply together. Until the application screen or official channel confirms this, use the subtotal with monthly support only and keep points in a separate column instead of subtracting them from cash spending.
For surcharges, separate months with published rates from periods not yet announced. UQ's telephone relay fee is ¥1.1 through March 2027; the fiscal 2027 rate was expected around March 2027. The BB universal-service fee from January 2027 onward is unknown. Docomo and Rakuten have also not published BB amounts or applicable months for 2027 onward. Docomo states that the current telephone relay fee continues into fiscal 2026 and later only if it is not changed. When each provider publishes an update, recalculate the applicable months, cancellation-month rules, prorating, and bill-level rounding. Show unpublished items as “not published”; do not claim the total is cheapest based only on a subtotal of confirmed charges.
If you include Docomo points in an estimate, confirm simultaneous HR02 purchase with a new home 5G line, continuation through the end of the second month after service start, whether monthly support can be combined, and any exclusions at the same application channel. Until you get an answer, do not subtract points from cash spending; record the check date and source of the answer.
