Asahi Net

Basic Information

Stock Code
3834
Industry
Information and Communications
Category Detail
Telecommunications Services
Prefecture
Tokyo
Establishment Year
April 1990
Listing Year
December 2006
Official Website
https://asahi-net.jp/
TSE Information
TSE Information
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Other Companies
Cube Sys, Systems D, Internet Initiative, FreeBit, Broad Enterprise, Toname, Daisan, Forval Telecom, GMO Internet Group

Overview

Asahi Net is an independent major internet connection provider established in 1990, an information and communications company aiming for high profitability centered on its nationwide ASAHI Net service.

Current Situation

Asahi Net recorded standalone net sales of approximately 11.3 billion yen and operating profit of approximately 1.7 billion yen in the fiscal year ended March 2021, continuing steady growth. Its mainstay internet connection service 'ASAHI Net' is offered nationwide, maintaining a stable member base. It is also advancing development of the cloud-based educational support system 'manaba' and business expansion through its U.S. subsidiary. In 2013, it resumed a capital and business alliance with Asahi Shimbun. In terms of information security, it has obtained ISO27001 and Privacy Mark certifications, focusing on enhancing reliability. As social contribution activities, it actively promotes disaster relief donations and environmental load reduction efforts. Going forward, service expansion in response to accelerating digital transformation and growth in cloud business are key challenges. In the fiercely competitive communications service industry, it seeks sustainable revenue expansion through differentiation. It positions regional contributions and customer satisfaction improvement as management pillars, planning further technological development and new business launches in its mid-to-long-term strategy.

Trivia

Interesting Facts

  • Resumed capital and business alliance with Asahi Shimbun after 14 years.
  • ASAHI Net is a long-established ISP offering services since 1994.
  • Educational support system manaba is adopted by many universities.
  • One of the few independent domestic ISPs maintaining stable management.
  • Total relief donations after Great East Japan Earthquake exceed 100 million yen.
  • Holds company-wide ISO27001 certification with advanced information management system.
  • Expanding into cloud services and corporate IT consulting.
  • Head office located in Kabukiza Tower, Ginza, Tokyo.
  • Conducted management buyout by executives and employees in 2000.
  • Focusing on U.S. market in educational ICT field.
  • Privacy Mark certified, emphasizing personal information protection.
  • Features multifaceted internet services despite small scale.
  • Provides environmental contribution services for internet users.
  • Accelerated strengthening in education field after 2013 alliance with Asahi Shimbun.
  • Built unusually stable revenue structure as an independent provider.

Hidden Connections

  • Asahi Shimbun as a shareholder creates synergies in educational media field through capital ties.
  • NTT East participated in third-party allotment, maintaining ties with major carrier.
  • Educational support system manaba is also expanding overseas via U.S. subsidiary.
  • Environmentally considerate service rollout garners sympathy from environmental groups and customers.
  • Relief and food aid fundraising leads to large-scale donation activities through ongoing member support.
  • Educational ICT service manaba achieves widespread use domestically through collaborations with multiple institutions.
  • Enhances competitiveness through service provision in collaboration with multiple related companies and shareholders.
  • Strong brand penetration as an independent net provider domestically.

Future Outlook

Growth Drivers

  • Expansion of digital education market and increasing cloud service demand
  • Expansion of high-speed net connection services for corporations
  • Increasing service demand from rising information security needs
  • Green service provision responding to growing environmental awareness
  • User expansion from increased remote work and learning
  • Educational ICT service deployment in U.S. and other overseas markets
  • Customer satisfaction improvement via advanced network technology
  • Investment in maintaining/expanding customer base and new service development
  • Differentiation through regionally focused service rollout
  • Brand value enhancement via social contribution activities
  • Demand for strengthened privacy protection and security
  • Tailwinds from government IT promotion policies

Strategic Goals

  • Expand fiber optic share in major nationwide regions
  • Achieve top market share in cloud educational solutions
  • Expand information security services domestically and internationally
  • Achieve over 50% CO2 emission reduction rate
  • Continuously secure over 90% customer satisfaction
  • Maintain over 5% average annual sales growth rate
  • Expand overseas business sales ratio to over 10%
  • Raise new business sales to 20% of total
  • Continuously renew Privacy Mark and other certifications
  • Strengthen community collaborations and sustainable social contributions

Business Segments

Corporate Internet Connection Services

Overview
Provides high-speed and stable internet connection services tailored to diverse corporate needs.
Competitiveness
Flexible service design and customer responsiveness unique to independent providers
Customers
  • Small and medium-sized enterprises
  • Educational institutions
  • Government offices
  • Medical institutions
  • General corporations
Products
  • Fiber optic connection service
  • ADSL service
  • VPN service
  • Dedicated line service
  • Cloud connection service

Cloud Educational Support Business

Overview
Provides specialized cloud-based learning management and support systems for educational institutions.
Competitiveness
System design closely aligned with educational sites and top-class domestic implementation track record
Customers
  • Universities
  • Vocational schools
  • Public schools
  • Boards of education
  • Education-related companies
Products
  • manaba learning management system
  • Educational content delivery
  • e-Learning environment setup
  • Mobile learning support

Network Security Services

Overview
Provides highly reliable security services leveraging multiple domestic certifications.
Competitiveness
ISO27001 compliance capabilities for international information security standards
Customers
  • Small and medium-sized enterprises
  • Government offices
  • Medical institutions
  • Educational institutions
  • Telecommunications carriers
Products
  • ISMS consulting
  • Privacy Mark acquisition support
  • Security diagnostic services
  • Antivirus services

Communications Equipment Sales and Rental

Overview
Supplies high-quality communications equipment through sales and rentals to support customer communication environments.
Competitiveness
Product selection expertise leveraging know-how as a communications provider
Customers
  • Individual customers
  • Corporate customers
  • Telecommunications carriers
Products
  • Fiber optic compatible routers
  • Mobile Wi-Fi devices
  • Modem equipment
  • Wireless LAN equipment

IT Management and Consulting

Overview
Supports from IT strategy planning to implementation, promoting corporate DX.
Competitiveness
Practical proposal capabilities leveraging long years of communications service operation experience
Customers
  • Small and medium-sized enterprises
  • Educational institutions
  • Government offices
Products
  • IT implementation support services
  • Business efficiency consulting
  • Cloud service implementation support

Overseas Business Expansion Support

Overview
Promotes dissemination of educational ICT in overseas markets through subsidiaries.
Competitiveness
Educational ICT know-how suited for global expansion
Customers
  • Educational institutions
  • Foreign companies
Products
  • Overseas cloud platform deployment support
  • Export of educational support systems

Environmental Services

Overview
Provides optional services contributing to environmental load reduction.
Competitiveness
Easy environmental contribution services linked to internet usage
Customers
  • Individual users
  • Corporate customers
Products
  • Carbon offset (Green Connection)
  • Environmentally considerate net connection service

Fundraising and Social Contribution Support Services

Overview
Mechanism enabling ongoing donations linked to internet usage fees.
Competitiveness
Stable fundraising environment utilizing member base
Customers
  • ASAHI Net members
  • General users
Products
  • Great East Japan Earthquake relief service
  • WFP food aid fundraising

Educational Training Services

Overview
Provides diverse learning support and training programs leveraging online capabilities.
Competitiveness
Smooth operations via cloud educational platform
Customers
  • Corporations
  • Local governments
  • Educational institutions
Products
  • Business training
  • IT skills education
  • Online seminars

Customer Support and Operations Management Services

Overview
Maintains customer satisfaction through high-quality support and operations.
Competitiveness
Prompt and courteous customer support system
Customers
  • Nationwide ASAHI Net users
  • Corporate customers
Products
  • Customer support
  • Network operations management
  • Troubleshooting services

Information Technology Development Business

Overview
Plans and develops IT systems using cutting-edge technology to contribute to business efficiency.
Competitiveness
Flexible development capabilities leveraging extensive know-how
Customers
  • Internal business divisions
  • External customers
Products
  • System development
  • Network construction
  • Operations automation tools

Competitive Advantage

Strengths

  • Stable nationwide member base
  • Flexibility as an independent communications provider
  • High-reliability information security system
  • Top-class implementation track record in educational cloud services
  • Brand strength from capital and business alliance with Asahi Shimbun
  • Abundant network technology know-how
  • Excellent customer support system
  • Diverse internet options provision
  • Active promotion of environmental conservation and social contribution activities
  • Broad responsiveness in corporate services
  • Strong domestic market penetration
  • Overseas business expansion via U.S. subsidiary
  • Reliability from Privacy Mark acquisition
  • Stable cloud service operations
  • Clear long-term growth strategy

Competitive Advantages

  • Flexible and rapid service design possible as an independent entity
  • Market superiority with education-focused cloud service 'manaba'
  • Possesses advanced information management capabilities via ISO27001 certification
  • High evaluations for regionally attuned customer support
  • Stable communications infrastructure through capital ties with NTT East
  • Covers wide needs with diverse net connection services
  • Promotes differentiation via environmentally considerate services and social contributions
  • Builds early mover advantage in overseas educational ICT deployment
  • Gains member trust through unique fundraising and social contribution services
  • Customer satisfaction-focused ongoing service provision
  • Achieves sustained growth while maintaining high profitability
  • Comprehensive lineup of corporate services
  • Operational efficiency and quality improvements via cutting-edge technology
  • Extensive experience in operating reliable domestic network infrastructure
  • Strong regulatory compliance and capabilities for complex regulations

Threats

  • Intensifying competition with major carriers leading to price wars
  • Risk of delayed response to high-speed communications technology shifts
  • Rising security risks from increasing cyber attacks
  • Potential customer churn due to service quality degradation
  • Revenue decline risk from reduced IT investments by corporate clients
  • Increasing entry of new cloud service providers
  • Cost increases from legal or regulatory changes
  • Market shrinkage due to population decline
  • Reduced management flexibility from capital alliances with others
  • Infrastructure damage risks from natural disasters
  • Potential constraints on overseas expansion from international situations
  • Challenges adapting to rapid technological changes

Innovations

2024: Expansion of cloud educational support system functions

Overview
Added AI-utilizing learning support features to manaba, improving usability.
Impact
Contributes to increased adoption by educational institutions

2023: Introduction of next-generation fiber optic network

Overview
Began nationwide rollout of latest fiber optic infrastructure supporting high-speed, high-capacity communications.
Impact
Significantly improves communications quality and customer satisfaction

2022: Strengthened information security management

Overview
Advanced ISO27001 recertification and Privacy Mark acquisition efforts.
Impact
Enhances customer trust and brand value

2021: Launch of environmentally considerate service 'Green Connection'

Overview
Began providing CO2 offset services to ASAHI Net members.
Impact
Well-received by environmentally conscious customers

2020: U.S. subsidiary expands educational support system business

Overview
Acquired local company rSmart's education business to strengthen U.S. market.
Impact
Successfully increased overseas sales and acquired new customers

Sustainability

  • Information security assurance via ISO27001 and Privacy Mark acquisition
  • Ongoing provision of Great East Japan Earthquake relief funds
  • Implementation of carbon offset service 'Green Connection'
  • Social contribution activities through food aid fundraising
  • Internal environmental load reduction and recycling promotion