J-COM and Japan Cablenet merge
February 28, 2014
By Chris Forrester
Japan’s J-COM (Jupiter Communications) is merging with Japan Cablenet (JCN), and thus bringing together the largest and second-largest cable operators under one roof. The merger will happen on April 1st. J-COM is backed by Sumitomo whole Japan Cablenet is backed by KDDI.
The merger plan was first floated back in October 2012 but was subject to a complex share restructuring and new shareholder agreement being in place. That exercise wrapped in December.
J-COM was established in 1995 and supplies both broadband cable and network services, as well as TV. It has some 3.8 million cabled homes. It passes 14.06 million homes within its franchise area.
JCN was established in 2001 and has a total of some 1.25 million homes connected, and passes about 4.85 million homes in its franchise area.