[Survey of 500 Users on Prepaid Pocket WiFi] 53.6% Use for 'Temporary Use on Business Trips/Travel', 48.0% Charge 10-30GB, 35.2% 'Still Undecided' vs Monthly Plans

The communication media 'All Connect Magazine' (https://all-connect.co.jp/magazine/), operated by ALL CONNECT Co., Ltd. (Representative Director and President: Kota Iwai, Headquarters: Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture), which engages in telecommunications infrastructure and regional development businesses, conducted a survey on the actual usage and needs of prospective users of prepaid pocket WiFi among 500 internet service users.

As a result of the survey, the most common usage status of prepaid WiFi was 'considering future use' at 48.6%, and the main purpose of use (or consideration) was 'temporary use such as business trips or travel', ranking first at 53.6%. The biggest reason for choosing a prepaid type over a monthly plan was 'not having to pay in months when it is not used' at 30.8%, and the frequency of use was most commonly 'varies by month' at 40.4%.

In addition, the mainstream charge capacity was '10-30GB' at 48.0%. In comparison with monthly plans, 'undecided' was the most common at 35.2%, and for the next year, 46.6% said they 'want to use both prepaid and monthly plans depending on the situation', indicating that many people are considering combined use.

This survey clarified the needs of prospective users, covering usage status, purpose, reasons for choosing, frequency of use, concerns, charge capacity, how they found out about it, comparison with monthly plans, future contract formats, and the contract status of other lines.

[Summary of Survey of 500 Users on Prepaid Pocket WiFi Usage]

- Usage Status and Purpose
- 'Considering future use' was the most common at 48.6%, currently using is 11.2%
- The top purpose of use was 'temporary use for business trips or travel' at 53.6%
- Reasons for Choosing and Frequency of Use
- The biggest reason for choosing was 'no cost in unused months' at 30.8%, 2nd was 'no monthly fee' at 24.2%
- Frequency of use was most commonly 'varies by month' at 40.4%
- Concerns, Charge Capacity, and Comparison
- The top concern was 'communication speed might be slow' at 24.9%, 2nd was 'charge fees feel expensive' at 18.9%
- Charge capacity is mainstream at '10-30GB' with 48.0%
- Compared to monthly plans, 'undecided' was the most common at 35.2%, and 46.6% answered they 'want to use both depending on the situation'

[Survey Overview]

Target Audience

Men and women using internet services (WiFi, smartphones, etc.)

Number of Valid Responses

500 people

Survey Period

May 2026

Survey Method

Internet survey (CrowdWorks)

Survey Sponsor

ALL CONNECT Co., Ltd. (All Connect Magazine)

Public Data

(PDF/CSV)

https://all-connect.co.jp/magazine/data/

What is the usage status of prepaid WiFi? What is the main purpose of use?

When asked about the usage status of prepaid pocket WiFi, 'Have never used it, but considering future use' was the most common at 48.6%. 'Have used it in the past (not currently using)' was 40.2%, and 'Currently using' was 11.2%.

Usage Status

Percentage

Have never used it, but considering future use

48.6%

Have used it in the past (not currently using)

40.2%

Currently using

11.2%

Those with usage experience, combining 'used in the past' and 'currently using', accounted for a majority at 51.4%. On the other hand, about half are 'considering', suggesting that prepaid WiFi is in a transition period from awareness to consideration.

Next, when asked about the main purpose of using (or considering using) prepaid WiFi, 'temporary use for business trips or travel' ranked first at 53.6%. This was followed by 'do not want to pay a monthly fee' at 17.8%, and 'want to use it only when necessary as a sub-line' at 15.6%.

Purpose of Use

Percentage

Temporary use for business trips or travel

53.6%

Do not want to pay a monthly fee

17.8%

Want to use it only when necessary as a sub-line

15.6%

Want to avoid contract bindings

7.8%

For backup during communication failures of fixed lines or smartphones

5.2%

With 'temporary use for business trips or travel' accounting for the majority, it is clear that prepaid WiFi is supported by the need to 'use only when necessary'. The top three reasons, combining the 2nd 'do not want to pay a monthly fee' (17.8%) and the 3rd 'only when necessary as a sub-line' (15.6%), total 87.0%, all sharing the sentiment of 'not wanting to incur costs when not in use'.

- Usage status is most commonly 'considering' at 48.6%, with experienced users (past + present) totaling 51.4%
- The top purpose of use is 'temporary use for business trips or travel' at 53.6%, a majority
- The top three reasons all share the need of 'not wanting to incur costs when not in use'

What is the reason for choosing prepaid over monthly plans? What is the monthly usage frequency?

When asked for the biggest reason for choosing (or trying to choose) prepaid WiFi over a monthly plan, 'not having to pay in months when it is not used' ranked first at 30.8%. This was followed by 'no monthly fee' at 24.2%, 'sufficient if it can be used for a short period' at 16.0%, 'no hassle of contract procedures or cancellation' at 15.4%, and 'can buy more data only when necessary' at 12.8%.

Biggest Reason for Choosing Prepaid

Percentage

Not having to pay in months when it is not used

30.8%

No monthly fee

24.2%

Sufficient if it can be used for a short period

16.0%

No hassle of contract procedures or cancellation

15.4%

Can buy more data only when necessary

12.8%

Can be purchased without a credit card

0.8%

Cost-related reasons totaled 55.0%, combining the 1st 'no cost in unused months' (30.8%) and the 2nd 'no monthly fee' (24.2%). Flexibility-focused reasons totaled 28.8%, combining 'sufficient for short periods' (16.0%) and 'can buy data when necessary' (12.8%), showing that it is chosen based on the two axes of 'cost reduction' and 'freedom of use'.

Next, when asked how many days a month they use (or expect to use) pocket WiFi (not limited to prepaid), 'frequency varies by month' was the most common at 40.4%. This was followed by 'about 1-5 days a month' at 25.6%, and 'about 6-10 days a month' at 20.2%.

Monthly Usage Frequency

Percentage

Frequency varies by month

40.4%

About 1-5 days a month

25.6%

About 6-10 days a month

20.2%

About 11-20 days a month

7.0%

21 days or more a month (almost every day)

6.8%

'Varies by month' was the most common at 40.4%, and those using it irregularly or 10 days or less a month totaled 86.2%. Combined with the top reason for choosing, 'no cost in unused months', this suggests the needs of a demographic that feels a fixed monthly fee is wasteful because their usage frequency is unstable, making the prepaid type a better fit.

- Reasons for choosing are cost-related totaling 55.0% ('zero cost in unused months' 30.8% + 'no monthly fee' 24.2%)
- Usage frequency is most commonly 'varies by month' at 40.4%, with 10 days or less + irregular totaling 86.2%
- The structure shows that because usage is irregular, prepaid fits better than fixed monthly plans

What are the concerns or anxieties about prepaid WiFi? What is the charge capacity per time?

When asked about concerns or anxieties regarding prepaid WiFi (multiple answers allowed), 'communication speed might be slow' ranked first at 24.9%. This was followed by 'charge fees feel expensive' at 18.9%, 'do not know which service to choose' at 12.9%, and 'managing remaining data seems troublesome' at 12.9%.

Concerns/Anxieties (Multiple Answers)

Percentage

Communication speed might be slow

24.9%

Charge fees feel expensive

18.9%

Do not know which service to choose

12.9%

Managing remaining data seems troublesome

12.9%

Support seems insufficient

9.3%

Anxious about device quality and durability

8.5%

Charge expiration date might run out

8.4%

No particular concerns or anxieties

4.1%

Concerns about speed and price totaled 43.8%, combining the 1st 'speed might be slow' (24.9%) and the 2nd 'charge fees feel expensive' (18.9%). It is clear that there are persistent doubts compared to monthly plans, such as 'speed might be inferior' or 'it might end up being more expensive'. Concerns about selection and operation also totaled 25.8%, indicating that for widespread adoption, specific information on speed and price, as well as easy-to-understand guidance on how to choose and manage data, are required.

Next, when asked how much data capacity they would charge (or expect to charge) per time when using prepaid WiFi, '10-30GB' was the most common at 48.0%. This was followed by '10GB or less' at 27.6%, and '30-50GB' at 16.4%.

Charge Capacity per Time

Percentage

10-30GB

48.0%

10GB or less

27.6%

30-50GB

16.4%

50-100GB

6.0%

100GB or more

2.0%

The demographic charging 30GB or less, combining '10GB or less' (27.6%) and '10-30GB' (48.0%), accounted for 75.6%, or three out of four people. Given that the top purpose of use in the previous section was 'temporary use for business trips or travel', it is clear that a capacity that can be used up in a short period of a few days to a few weeks is desired.

'50GB or more' accounted for only 8.0% in total, showing that 'small to medium capacity only when necessary' is the mainstream. For continuous large-capacity use, monthly plans would likely be more advantageous in many cases.

- The top concern is 'communication speed might be slow' at 24.9%, with speed and price concerns totaling 43.8%
- Charge capacity is most commonly '10-30GB' at 48.0%, with 30GB or less totaling 75.6%
- The mainstream way to use prepaid is 'small to medium capacity only when necessary'

How did you find out about prepaid WiFi? Did you compare it with monthly plans?

When asked how they found out about prepaid pocket WiFi, 'found it on search engines like Google' ranked first at 29.8%. This was followed by 'found out on SNS (X, YouTube, etc.)' at 27.2%, 'found out on comparison sites or ranking articles' at 14.4%, 'recommended by friends or family' at 13.2%, and 'saw it at an electronics retail store' at 9.8%.

How Found Out

Percentage

Found it on search engines like Google

29.8%

Found out on SNS (X, YouTube, etc.)

27.2%

Found out on comparison sites or ranking articles

14.4%

Recommended by friends or family

13.2%

Saw it at an electronics retail store

9.8%

Read about it in a news article

5.6%

Online information contact accounted for a majority at 57.0%, combining the 1st 'search engines' (29.8%) and the 2nd 'SNS' (27.2%). It is clear that prepaid WiFi is overwhelmingly known through internet searches and SNS rather than in-store awareness (9.8%).

Third-party referrals also totaled 27.6%, combining 'comparison sites or ranking articles' (14.4%) and 'recommended by friends or family' (13.2%). To expand awareness, enriching comparison articles and reviews is important in addition to search and SNS.

Next, when asked if they compared (or are comparing) whether to choose a prepaid or monthly pocket WiFi, 'undecided and still hesitating between monthly plans' was the most common at 35.2%. This was followed by 'chose (or plan to choose) prepaid after comparing with monthly plans' at 34.8%, 'only considered prepaid and did not think about monthly plans' at 18.2%, and 'starting to think monthly plans are better suited' at 11.8%.

Comparison Status with Monthly Plans

Percentage

Undecided and still hesitating between monthly plans

35.2%

Chose (or plan to choose) prepaid after comparing with monthly plans

34.8%

Only considered prepaid and did not think about monthly plans

18.2%

Starting to think monthly plans are better suited

11.8%

Combining 'undecided' and 'monthly plans are better suited', the demographic that has not fully committed to prepaid totals 47.0%. On the other hand, the demographic that has solidified their intention to choose prepaid, combining 'chose after comparing' and 'only considered prepaid', totals 53.0%.

'Chose after comparing' (34.8%) and 'undecided' (35.2%) are almost equal, suggesting that the differences, pros, and cons compared to monthly plans may not be sufficiently conveyed. Given the top concern about speed and hesitation in choosing, enriching the information necessary for comparison is key to providing a push.

- How found out is search engines 29.8% + SNS 27.2%, totaling 57.0% online
- Comparison with monthly plans is most commonly 'undecided' at 35.2%, while those who chose prepaid total 53.0%
- 'Hesitation' and 'Chose' are almost equal ── Lack of information for comparison is an issue

What contract format suits you for the next year? What other internet services are you contracted with?

When asked what contract format they think suits them best considering WiFi usage over the next year, 'want to use both prepaid and monthly plans depending on usage frequency' was the most common at 46.6%. This was followed by 'prepaid type suits me' at 23.8%, 'monthly pocket WiFi suits me better' at 18.4%, and 'installing a fixed line at home suits me better' at 11.2%.

Most Suitable Contract Format

Percentage

Want to use both prepaid and monthly plans depending on usage frequency

46.6%

Prepaid type suits me

23.8%

Monthly pocket WiFi suits me better

18.4%

Installing a fixed line at home suits me better

11.2%

Combining 'want to use both' and 'prepaid type suits me', a total of 70.4% want to use the prepaid type in some form. However, 'prepaid type alone is sufficient' is only 23.8%, and it is characteristic that about half desire 'combined use with monthly plans'.

This is consistent with the 35.2% who answered they were 'undecided' against monthly plans in the previous section, positioning the prepaid type not as a replacement for monthly plans, but as an 'option to use depending on the situation'.

Next, when asked if they currently contract with any monthly internet services other than prepaid WiFi, 'contracted with a home router' ranked first at 40.2%. This was followed by 'contracted with an optical line' at 39.6%, 'also contracted with a monthly pocket WiFi' at 9.8%, and 'substituting with a large-capacity smartphone plan' at 7.4%.

Contract Status of Other Internet Lines

Percentage

Ho