GLBB Japan Co.

What GLBB Japan Co. does

GLBB Japan K.K. is a private Japanese telecommunications carrier founded on January 9, 2008 by Representative Director Craig Watson (ワトソン クレーグ) and headquartered in Chatan-cho, Okinawa. The company provides dedicated fiber internet, point-to-point Ethernet, IP transit, colocation, NTT FLETS-based VPN, and cloud-direct-connect services to enterprise customers and consumers across Japan, operating its own backbone with redundant metro networks, four proprietary G-colo data center sites (GC1 Tokyo Koto, GC2 Nago Okinawa, GC3 Osaka, GC4 Fukuoka) plus additional presence in Saitama, Fukushima, Shirakawa, and the new Inzai PoP at MC Digital Realty NRT. The platform interconnects with 4 major Japan IXs (JPIX, JPNAP Tokyo as first reseller in Japan, BBIX Transit Partner Program), 2 IXs in Hong Kong, Any2 IX in Los Angeles, and (since January 2025) DE-CIX globally, with cloud-direct private connectivity to Microsoft Azure, AWS, and Office 365. The company also develops proprietary hardware, notably the GS3SFP-232-GE serial console server (VCCI certified) that won the Grand Prize at Interop Tokyo 2025, and resells MikroTik networking equipment.

GLBB generates revenue primarily through recurring monthly subscriptions - F::Xpress dedicated fiber (10Mbps to 10Gbps with SLA), Metro P2P and Inter-Metro P2P dedicated circuits, IP Transit (usage-based), GLBB Hikari (NTT FLETS-based 200Mbps to 1Gbps), and NGN::X VPN - with secondary revenue from managed colocation services (G-colo), professional network design and implementation engagements for offices/apartments/hotels, and hardware sales. The go-to-market is direct field sales through offices in Okinawa HQ, Tokyo, Osaka, Yokosuka, and Iwakuni, plus website inquiries, with horizontal segmentation across enterprise (primary revenue segment requiring dedicated bandwidth, BCP/DR redundancy, and cloud interconnectivity) and consumer (F::Xpress and GLBB Hikari for home use in Okinawa, Tokyo Metro, and Kanagawa). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; enterprise services require consultation and custom quotes while consumer tiers bill monthly. Customer segments served include foreign-affiliated enterprises needing English-language support, education/research (e.g., OIST - Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology), and Japan's domestic SMB and household base.

Name

GLBB Japan Co.

Legal name

GLBB Japan K.K.

Website

https://glbb.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

GLBB Japan K.K. is a private Japanese telecommunications carrier providing dedicated fiber internet, point-to-point Ethernet, IP transit, colocation across four regional data centers, and cloud direct connect services to enterprise and consumer customers across Japan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chatan

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Internet Connectivity Services: Recurring internet connection services including dedicated fiber lines (F::Xpress), IP Transit, GLBB Hikari using NTT FLETS, and NGN::X VPN services. Services are provided to both enterprise and consumer segments with various speed tiers from 100Mbps to 10Gbps.
2. Dedicated Line Services: Point-to-point and inter-metro dedicated connectivity services connecting multiple business locations. Metro P2P and Inter-Metro P2P services provide Layer 2 dedicated circuits with customizable bandwidth.
3. Colocation Services: G-colo colocation service offering rack space, shared units, cage configurations, and connectivity options in data centers across Japan (GC1, GC2, GC3, GC4 sites).
4. Network Design and Implementation: Custom network design, construction, and ongoing management services for offices, apartments, hotels, and enterprise networks including BGP operation management.
5. Hardware Sales: Sales of proprietary GS3SFP-232-GE serial console servers and MikroTik networking equipment including routers and switches.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

GLBB Japan provides dedicated fiber internet, point-to-point Ethernet, IP Transit, NTT FLETS-based broadband, colocation, and private cloud connectivity services to business and consumer customers across Japan. The company also designs custom enterprise networks, sells its proprietary GS3SFP-232-GE serial console server, and resells MikroTik networking hardware.

Product overview

GLBB Japan Co. is a telecommunications provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of enterprise and consumer connectivity solutions. The core enterprise offerings include F::Xpress (dedicated fiber lines 10Mbps-10Gbps), Metro P2P and Inter-Metro P2P (point-to-point dedicated lines), IP Transit Service (global backbone connectivity), GLBB Hikari (NTT FLETS-based internet), NGN::X (VPN service via NTT NGN), Cloud Direct Connect (private cloud connectivity to Azure/AWS/Office 365), Agile Collaboration (private cloud solutions), G-colo Service (colocation with multiple data center sites), and Network Design/Implementation services. The company also develops its own hardware product line (GS3SFP-232-GE serial console server) and resells MikroTik networking equipment. Consumer services include F::Xpress and GLBB Hikari for personal use. The G-colo colocation service operates across four data center tiers: GC1 (Tokyo), GC2 (Okinawa), GC3 (Osaka), and GC4 (Fukuoka).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• F::Xpress: Dedicated fiber line service with customizable speeds ranging from 10Mbps to 10Gbps for enterprise and consumer internet access.
• G-colo Service
• NGN::X
• GS3SFP-232-GE

Products and services

• F::Xpress Dedicated fiber line internet service with customizable speeds from 10Mbps to 10Gbps, optional bandwidth guarantees, and standard SLA for business use. A consumer variant serves households in Okinawa Prefecture and Tokyo Metropolitan Area with speeds from 100Mbps to 10Gbps.
• Metro P2P High-quality Ethernet point-to-point dedicated line connecting two locations via fiber optic last-mile access, with guaranteed bandwidth, redundant metro backbone configuration, and industry-standard SLA.
• Inter-Metro P2P Layer 2 dedicated line service interconnecting regions and overseas data centers for BCP/DR and wide-area closed network deployment, with customizable bandwidth from 10Mbps to 100Gbps.
• IP Transit Service Usage-based high-speed internet connection service providing access to GLBB's global backbone at Japan PoPs, with connections to 4 major IXs in Japan, 2 in Hong Kong, and 1 in Los Angeles.
• GLBB Hikari Internet connection service using NTT East/West FLETS HIKARI with GLBB's proprietary connection standards to reduce peak-hour congestion; speeds 200Mbps to 1Gbps, available in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Aomori, and Okinawa for both business and consumer customers.
• NGN::X Entry-level VPN service using NTT East/West FLETS NGN network with direct connection to GLBB backbone, enabling closed-site connections and stable internet at lower cost than dedicated lines.
• Cloud Direct Connect Private closed-network connectivity service to Microsoft Azure, Amazon AWS, and Microsoft Office 365 without internet exposure, with customizable bandwidth and industry-standard SLA.
• Agile Collaboration Service enabling customers to build and operate private cloud content within GLBB's network, allowing ASPs and appliance vendors to service clients from data centers rather than on-premise servers.
• G-colo Service Colocation service providing rack space (standard racks, unit sharing, cages), internet connectivity, private cloud connections, and dedicated inter-site connections across GC1 Tokyo, GC2 Nago, GC3 Osaka, and GC4 Fukuoka data center sites.
• Network Design / Implementation Service Custom network design, construction, and ongoing management services for offices, apartments, hotels, and enterprise networks including BGP operation management, leveraging the company's 10+ years of ISP experience.
• GS3SFP-232-GE Serial Console Server Proprietary highly scalable serial console server connecting serial devices to network via SFP/SFP+ ports, with zero-touch provisioning, secure SSHv2 remote console access, and VCCI certification for Japan use.

Quantifiable outcome

• Low latency connectivity with no line sharing or branching devices
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• DE-CIXcoreTechnology or Integration · 14 January 2025Partnership with DE-CIX (headquartered in Frankfurt) to provide GLBB Japan customers access to DE-CIX's global interconnection ecosystem.
• Nikkei Advanced Systems Inc.strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2022Three-way joint venture for GC-Connect wide-area Ethernet service. GLBB Japan provides network infrastructure and connectivity services.
• Qualysite Technologies Inc.strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2022Three-way joint venture for GC-Connect wide-area Ethernet service. Collaboration between GLBB Japan, Nikkei Advanced Systems Inc., and Qualysite Technologies Inc.
• BBIXcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2021GLBB Japan joined BBIX Transit Partner Program, enabling provision of IP transit capabilities to BBIX customers in Tokyo and Osaka regions.
• Giga Prize Co., Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2020Business alliance for GIGA Priority Gate service. GLBB provides high-quality and secure internet connections using its large-bandwidth backbone and proprietary technology.
• JPNAP (Japan Network Access Point)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2019GLBB Japan became a member of JPNAP Tokyo as the third IX presence in Japan and the first reseller in Japan.
• JPIXcoreTechnology or IntegrationConnected to JPIX internet exchange. GLBB Japan joined JPIX for improved connectivity and exchange services.
• NTT East/West (FLETS)coreTechnology or IntegrationUtilizes NTT FLETS HIKARI infrastructure for GLBB Hikari and NGN::X services. GLBB sets proprietary connection standards on top of NTT infrastructure.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Broad incumbents

• SoftBank / SoftBank BB: Major Japanese carrier whose subsidiary BBIX is both a GLBB partner (Transit Partner Program) and an adjacent competitor in IP transit/IX services (source_id analog:).
• NTT Communications (NTT Group): Japan's incumbent carrier and owner of the FLETS HIKARI last-mile that GLBB resells; competes against GLBB at the enterprise layer (Metro P2P, Cloud Direct Connect, IP Transit) with vastly larger scale (source_id analog:).
• KDDI: One of Japan's two largest telecom groups, offering consumer fiber (au HIKARI) and enterprise dedicated lines — directly competitive with both sides of GLBB's portfolio at significantly larger scale (source_id analog:).
• Equinix Japan: Largest global colocation operator with major Tokyo/Inzai/Osaka campuses — where GLBB now hosts its Inzai-area PoP (MC Digital Realty NRT Campus); competes with G-colo for enterprise colocation and cross-connect business (source_id analog:).

Direct peers

• Asahi Net: Long-standing Japanese ISP offering both consumer internet and SME fiber, including services layered on NTT FLETS — direct competitor in the same consumer/SME connectivity niche as GLBB Hikari and F::Xpress Consumer (source_id analog:).
• Colt Technology Services: Global fiber and colocation operator with substantial Japan presence (Tokyo, Inzai, Osaka); competes with GLBB on enterprise Metro P2P, Inter-Metro P2P and dedicated connectivity for multinational clients (source_id analog:).
• Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ): Japan's largest independent IP-network services provider, offering IP transit, dedicated fiber, data center, cloud direct-connect and managed services — the closest functional analog to GLBB across enterprise connectivity (source_id analog:).
• So-net (Sony Network Communications): Sony-owned ISP providing consumer fiber on NTT FLETS as well as business connectivity — directly comparable to GLBB's consumer F::Xpress / GLBB Hikari product line (source_id analog:).
• Arteria Networks: Tokyo-listed Japanese network service provider focused on dark-fiber leasing, dedicated lines and colocation; highly comparable to GLBB on enterprise fiber and DC portfolio mix (source_id analog:).
• Biglobe (NEC): NEC-affiliated Japanese ISP combining consumer fiber (FLETS-resell model) with enterprise connectivity — overlaps GLBB's dual-segment play and the NTT-FLETS last-mile distribution approach (source_id analog:).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GLBBJapan
• Facebookfacebook.com/glbbjapan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/glbb-japan

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GLBB Japan Co.