Tokyo, Japan – August 2026 – SoftBank Corp. has announced a stellar performance for its first fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2026, reporting a record-breaking revenue of ¥1.8147 trillion. This represents a robust year-on-year growth of 9.4 percent, underscoring the company’s strategic alignment with the accelerating digital economy, particularly the burgeoning demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, enterprise digital transformation initiatives, cloud services, broadband expansion, and financial technology.
The Japanese telecommunications giant’s financial report paints a picture of strong, profitable growth across its diverse business segments. Operating income saw a healthy increase of 4.0 percent, reaching ¥302.3 billion, while net income surged by an impressive 10.5 percent to ¥201.5 billion. Further reinforcing this positive trend, net income attributable to SoftBank shareholders climbed 3.3 percent to ¥150.1 billion, and adjusted EBITDA demonstrated significant momentum, growing 7.9 percent to ¥508.1 billion. These figures collectively signal another quarter of substantial financial health and strategic success for the company.
Consumer Business: A Foundation of Steady Growth
SoftBank’s consumer business segment proved to be a significant contributor to the overall revenue surge, generating ¥749.7 billion, an increase of 4.4 percent compared to the same period last year. This growth was primarily driven by a 4.0 percent rise in service revenue, which reached ¥564.8 billion. Key factors underpinning this expansion include an increase in average revenue per user (ARPU) for its mobile services, the ongoing rollout and uptake of its broadband offerings, and the steady performance of its electricity services.
Within the mobile segment, revenue saw a modest but positive increase of 0.8 percent, totaling ¥400.5 billion. This growth is attributed to the successful adoption of its "PayToku" pricing plans, which have resonated well with customers, and the impact of earlier tariff revisions for its Y!mobile brand. Broadband revenue, a crucial component of SoftBank’s connectivity strategy, experienced a more substantial jump of 4.4 percent, reaching ¥108.8 billion. The electricity services division, a more nascent but rapidly expanding area, recorded the most impressive growth rate within the consumer segment, soaring by 34.3 percent to ¥55.5 billion. This rapid expansion in electricity services highlights SoftBank’s strategic diversification and its ability to capitalize on emerging market needs.
Enterprise Segment: Leading the Digital Transformation Charge
The enterprise business segment emerged as a powerhouse of growth for SoftBank, showcasing an impressive 11.4 percent increase in revenue, reaching ¥260.4 billion. This robust performance is a clear indicator of the accelerating pace of digital transformation initiatives across Japanese businesses, with companies increasingly investing in advanced technologies to enhance their operations and competitiveness.
Within this dynamic segment, telecommunications revenue grew by 4.4 percent to ¥131.5 billion, supported by a steady increase in mobile subscriptions from enterprise clients. The Solutions revenue stream also demonstrated healthy growth, rising by 5.8 percent to ¥51.8 billion. However, it was the Cloud & AI revenue that delivered the most spectacular performance, exhibiting a remarkable surge of 31.0 percent to ¥77.1 billion. This exceptional growth underscores the immense demand for AI computing infrastructure, sophisticated cloud platforms, and robust security services as enterprises aggressively adopt AI technologies. The enterprise segment’s income mirrored this upward trajectory, climbing by a significant 27.5 percent to ¥62.2 billion, reflecting the profitability of these high-growth areas.
AI: SoftBank’s Next Frontier of Growth
SoftBank is strategically positioning artificial intelligence as its next major growth engine, guided by its ambitious "Activate AI for Society" strategy. The company is actively investing in building next-generation digital infrastructure by monetizing AI infrastructure and services, while simultaneously fostering wider AI adoption across all its business segments. This proactive approach signifies a deep commitment to leveraging AI to drive future value creation.
In a significant move to support this vision, SoftBank has launched a new battery business based in Japan. This initiative is designed to provide the critical power infrastructure necessary for future AI data centers and to address the escalating electricity demands anticipated from widespread AI workloads. This forward-thinking investment in energy solutions demonstrates SoftBank’s holistic approach to enabling the AI revolution.
Strategic Investments and Infrastructure Expansion
The company’s commitment to future growth is further evidenced by a substantial increase in capital expenditure, which nearly doubled to ¥332.7 billion in the first quarter, up from ¥182.8 billion in the previous year. While telecommunications investments saw a modest increase to ¥84.6 billion from ¥82.4 billion, the investment in AI-related capital expenditure expanded dramatically, from ¥3.4 billion to ¥10.3 billion. This substantial ramp-up in AI spending is primarily attributed to the leasing of telecommunications infrastructure, including dark fiber, following the strategic launch of OpenFiber Japan.
OpenFiber Japan, which commenced operations during the quarter, is playing a pivotal role in accelerating fiber network deployment and bolstering broadband revenue growth. SoftBank is also actively enhancing its digital ecosystem by introducing innovative customer offerings. These include satellite connectivity solutions, advanced 5G services, and unlimited data plans for international travel, all aimed at strengthening its competitive position and meeting the evolving needs of its diverse customer base.
Strategic Outlook and Future Implications
SoftBank’s latest quarterly results paint a compelling picture of a company strategically positioned to capitalize on the transformative power of AI and the ongoing digital evolution of businesses and society. The record revenue, coupled with strong growth across key segments, demonstrates the effectiveness of its forward-looking investments and its ability to anticipate and respond to market demands.
The significant increase in AI-related capital expenditure signals a clear intent to become a dominant player in the AI infrastructure space. By investing in both the foundational elements of AI – computing power and connectivity – and the enabling technologies like energy solutions, SoftBank is building a comprehensive ecosystem to support the widespread adoption of AI.
The company’s focus on enterprise digital transformation, particularly through its Cloud & AI offerings, suggests a strong pipeline of future revenue streams. As businesses continue to integrate AI into their core operations, SoftBank is well-placed to provide the essential tools and services they require.
While the report did not provide specific subscriber numbers or churn figures for the consumer segment, the emphasis on increased mobile ARPU and higher mobile subscriptions within the enterprise business highlights the core drivers of its revenue growth. This suggests a strategic focus on value enhancement and deeper penetration within the corporate market.
The continued expansion of broadband services through initiatives like OpenFiber Japan underscores SoftBank’s commitment to providing ubiquitous and high-speed connectivity, a fundamental prerequisite for the digital economy. The introduction of new services like satellite connectivity further diversifies its offerings and caters to a broader range of connectivity needs.
In conclusion, SoftBank’s first-quarter performance is a testament to its strategic vision and operational agility. The company’s aggressive investments in AI infrastructure, coupled with its success in driving digital transformation for enterprises and expanding its consumer services, positions it for continued growth and leadership in the evolving technological landscape. The "Activate AI for Society" strategy is not merely a slogan but a concrete roadmap that is already yielding significant financial results and setting the stage for future innovation and market dominance. The coming quarters will undoubtedly be closely watched as SoftBank continues to execute its ambitious plans and solidify its position as a key enabler of the AI-powered future.
