NTT Docomo forecast mixed results for its fiscal 2022 (ending 31 March 2023) after reporting stable overall revenue in the opening quarter, and drops in mobile sales and ARPU.

The Japan-based operator expects net profit to remain flat year-on-year at JPY748 billion ($5.5 billion) and revenue to rise 1.9 per cent to nearly JPY6 trillion.

Net profit for its fiscal Q1 rose 3.4 per cent to JPY205.1 billion, with operating revenue mostly unchanged at JPY1.4 trillion.

Mobile service revenue fell 4.3 per cent to JPY645.2 billion and ARPU slipped 4 per cent to JPY4,030.

Equipment sales improved 4.4 per cent to JPY145.3 billion.

Its 5G user base doubled to 13.8 million. Total mobile subscribers increased 2.8 per cent to 85.2 million.

Life Smart sales rose 2.4 per cent to JPY240.3 billion and enterprise revenue increased 2.3 per cent to JPY417.7 billion.

Capex for the full fiscal year is expected to rise to 16.8 per cent of sales from 16.4 per cent.