SoftBank Corp. CEO Masayoshi Son said Friday the company will offer free Wi-Fi to foreign tourists in Japan.
Son was replying to a question from an individual investor during SoftBank's annual shareholders' meeting on whether it will provide free wireless Internet access to international visitors, given that foreigner-friendly Wi-Fi is a rarity in Japan.
"Let's do it," Son said.
The details of the service remain undecided, a SoftBank spokesman said later.
SoftBank has set up more than 450,000 Wi-Fi hot spots nationwide that people who already subscribe to its mobile phone service can access for free.
Many businesses, such as convenience stores and those operating in subway stations, already provide free Wi-Fi, but it is not really geared toward foreigners. The government is trying to double international visitors in time for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. Earlier this month, Son told Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe that SoftBank plans to provide free Wi-Fi to visitors for the games.
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