MetCom
MetCom is a Japanese private company providing terrestrial 3D positioning, navigation, and timing services that complement GPS for indoor, underground, and vertical use cases. It serves Japanese enterprises, government agencies, and app developers through its Pinnacle and MBS platforms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What MetCom does
MetCom is a Japanese private company founded in July 2019 and headquartered in Akasaka, Tokyo, that provides terrestrial 3D positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services to complement GPS/GNSS for the Japanese market. The company's flagship products are Pinnacle, a vertical positioning service that compares smartphone barometric sensor data against a nationwide hyper-local reference pressure station network to deliver floor-level altitude accuracy of 2–3 meters without building-side infrastructure; and MBS (Metropolitan Beacon System), a network of ground-based transmitters operating in licensed low-band spectrum (targeting 900MHz) with signal strength up to 100,000x that of GPS, enabling seamless indoor, underground, and urban canyon positioning. MetCom also offers a high-precision time distribution service for critical infrastructure (local 5G base stations, power grids, financial networks) and 3D location big data analytics co-developed with BlogWatcher, drawing on up to 30 million monthly active users of crowdsourced location data. The technology stack is built on licensed NextNav 5G waveform and receiver IP (NextNav is also a major shareholder) and patent-protected Pinnacle barometric methods.
MetCom operates as a B2B/B2G infrastructure provider, monetizing through enterprise and government contracts (subscription and licensing of the Pinnacle SDK, MBS infrastructure licensing, and data services) while providing the SDK to app developers free of charge. Its go-to-market is channel-led: NEC Communication Systems serves as the primary systems integrator for construction, drone, and building management deployments; enterprise customers include SECOM (security), Tokyo Tatemono (smart buildings), Genetec and Skywhale (disaster prevention apps); and government customers include the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Hamamatsu City Fire Department, JAXA (under J-SPARC), the Cabinet Office, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Distribution spans SDK embedding into 100+ apps, direct enterprise sales through SIs, government project procurement, and the exclusive Japanese licensing partnership with NextNav.
The company has raised approximately ¥2.4 billion cumulatively across Series A (2020), Series B (¥500M, October 2021), Series BB (¥800M, July 2022), and a 2025 round of approximately ¥1 billion. Investors include Kyocera Communication Systems, Sony Network Communications, SECOM, Sun Electronic, DRONE FUND, NextNav, IT For You, and Zenrin Future Partners. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the full commercial MBS deployment remains contingent on securing commercial 900MHz spectrum licenses in Japan.
MetCom firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MetCom
- Legal name
- MetCom株式会社
- Website
- https://metcom.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- MetCom is a Japanese private company providing terrestrial 3D positioning, navigation, and timing services that complement GPS for indoor, underground, and vertical use cases. It serves Japanese enterprises, government agencies, and app developers through its Pinnacle and MBS platforms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where MetCom is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
MetCom business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Pinnacle Vertical Positioning Service (Subscription/Licensing): MetCom provides its Pinnacle vertical positioning as a licensed service to app developers and enterprise customers. Developers integrate the Pinnacle SDK into their applications (smartphone apps, IoT services) and pay for access to the positioning network infrastructure. The service operates on a subscription or usage-based model with coverage in major Japanese metropolitan areas (Tokyo, Osaka, and expanding nationally).
- MBS 3D Positioning Infrastructure Licensing: MetCom licenses its Metropolitan Beacon System 3D positioning infrastructure to enterprise and government customers. The full MBS system provides outdoor/indoor seamless 3D positioning using ground-based transmitters, targeting critical infrastructure operators, telecom companies, and government agencies requiring resilient PNT capabilities.
- International 5G PNT Technology Licensing (with NextNav): MetCom licenses NextNav's proprietary 5G-based 3D PNT technology for deployment in Japanese metropolitan areas. This expanded partnership positions MetCom as the exclusive Japanese licensee for NextNav's terrestrial 5G PNT network, providing timing services as a complement and backup to GPS/GNSS. Revenue is generated through licensing fees and network deployment partnerships.
- 3D Location Big Data Analytics: MetCom and BlogWatcher provide 3D location big data as a data product to government agencies and enterprises. The data — extracted from up to 30 million monthly active users — is processed to include height information, enabling crowd flow analysis by floor, underground passage, or pedestrian deck. Revenue is generated through data service fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Developer SDK Access – Free |
| Subscription | Annual | Pinnacle Vertical Positioning Service – Commercial (Enterprise) |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | MBS 3D Positioning Infrastructure – Commercial (Enterprise/Government) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
MetCom product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MetCom provides terrestrial 3D positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services for the Japanese market through two complementary systems: (1) MBS (Metropolitan Beacon System), a network of ground-based transmitters operating in licensed 900MHz spectrum that delivers seamless outdoor/indoor 3D positioning with signal strength up to 100,000x greater than GPS; and (2) Pinnacle, a patent-protected vertical positioning service that uses smartphone barometric sensors compared against a national reference pressure station network to deliver floor-level altitude with 2–3m accuracy. The company also offers a high-precision time distribution service for critical infrastructure timing and a 3D people flow data analytics product.
Product overview
MetCom offers a portfolio of 3D positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services that complement GPS and GNSS systems. The core platform consists of MBS (Metropolitan Beacon System) for comprehensive 3D positioning, with Pinnacle as the initial vertical positioning service that provides floor-level accuracy using barometric sensors. High-precision timing distribution service delivers timing synchronization for critical infrastructure. The services work together to provide seamless positioning indoors, underground, and outdoors - solving GPS's structural limitations of indoor coverage, vertical positioning difficulty, and security vulnerabilities. The company also offers 3D people flow data analytics and SDK tools for third-party application integration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Pinnacle: Vertical positioning service that provides high-precision altitude measurement for smartphones and IoT devices both indoors and outdoors using barometric sensor technology, achieving 2-3 meter accuracy for floor-level detection.
- MBS (Metropolitan Beacon System)
Products and services
- Pinnacle Vertical Positioning Service (垂直測位サービス) Patent-protected vertical positioning service that provides high-precision altitude measurement for smartphones and IoT devices indoors and outdoors using barometric sensor data compared against a network of hyper-local reference pressure stations, achieving 2–3m accuracy for floor-level detection without requiring building-side infrastructure.
- MBS – Metropolitan Beacon System 3D Positioning Service (MBS 三次元測位サービス) Full terrestrial 3D positioning network using dedicated ground-based transmitters operating in licensed 900MHz spectrum. Provides seamless horizontal and vertical positioning indoors, underground, and in dense urban canyon environments where GPS/GNSS signals are unavailable, with signal strength up to 100,000x greater than GPS. Complements and serves as backup to GNSS systems.
- High-Precision Time Distribution Service (高精度時刻配信サービス)
Quantifiable outcome
- 94% accuracy within ±3m vertical (floor-level) across 4,400+ US cities (NextNav/Pinnacle), validated by CTIA independent testing – FCC requirement is 80%
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use MetCom
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
MetCom technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability2 records
Feature4 records
MetCom partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered secondary, core and minor.
- ゼネテック株式会社 (Genetec)secondaryTechnology partnership for disaster prevention applications. Genetec developed the Cocodayo disaster preparedness app integrating MetCom's Pinnacle vertical positioning, enabling floor-level location sharing during emergencies. Also partnered on the ぼうさいこくたい 2026 award-winning project with Hamamatsu City. Jointly developing vertical evacuation guidance functionality.
- NextNav Inc.coreExpanded strategic technology partnership where MetCom licenses NextNav's proprietary 5G waveform and receiver technologies to build a terrestrial 5G PNT network in Japan, marking NextNav's first international deployment. MetCom has secured a license to deploy NextNav's 5G-based 3D PNT solution in Japanese metropolitan areas, contingent on obtaining necessary radio licenses from Japanese regulatory bodies. NextNav is also a major shareholder in MetCom, providing both capital and technology access.
- 株式会社ブログウォッチャー (BlogWatcher)coreData partnership for 3D location big data. BlogWatcher provides location data from up to 30M MAU via the Profile Passport SDK, which MetCom converts to 3D data using its Pinnacle technology. Jointly developed 'height-based hierarchical separation' technology to extract crowd flow data by floor, underground passage, or pedestrian deck level. Partnered on LBMA Japan Award 2025 (won Best Award).
- KPMGコンサルティング株式会社secondaryConsulting partnership for the MLIT 3D people flow data project. KPMG Consulting supports project management, use case development, and reporting for government-led 3D crowd flow data initiatives. Part of the three-party consortium with MetCom and Hololab for MLIT's advanced technology investigation.
- 株式会社ホロラボ (Hololab)secondaryXR visualization technology partnership. Hololab provides 3D spatial visualization capabilities for the MLIT 3D people flow data project, combining MetCom's 3D positioning data with Hololab's augmented reality and digital twin visualization technology. Also collaborated on the Toranomon Hills XR hackathon using PLATEAU 3D city models.
- 国立研究開発法人宇宙航空研究開発機構 (JAXA)coreCo-creation partnership under JAXA's J-SPARC framework. MetCom and JAXA are jointly developing a terrestrial PNT system combining MetCom's ground-based MBS network with JAXA's MADOCA-PPP centimeter-level positioning augmentation from the Michibiki quasi-zenith satellite and JAXA's array antenna technology for improved anti-jamming performance. Goal: ultra-precise, jamming-resistant, indoor/outdoor seamless PNT for Japan.
- スカイホエール株式会社 (Skywhale)secondaryIntegration partnership for the appTown safety app. Skywhale's regional support app integrates MetCom's Pinnacle vertical positioning to provide floor-level location information when users send emergency 'help needed' signals, improving the precision of community-based rescue response.
- 日本電気通信システム株式会社 (NEC Communication Systems)coreStrategic technical partnership and systems integration. NEC Communication Systems has conducted multiple joint technology demonstrations with MetCom: (1) construction site worker 3D positioning (2022), (2) autonomous drone navigation control (2023), (3) construction elevator positioning (2024). NEC COS develops positioning solutions integrating MetCom's MBS technology with customer-specific applications.
- 東京建物株式会社 (Tokyo Tatemono)secondaryPilot partnership for smart building applications. Tokyo Tatemono deployed MetCom's 3D positioning in its Nihonbashi building, integrating with the Dynamic Building Matrix (DBM) smart building management system. Achieved 1-meter-level floor positioning accuracy for building manager location tracking.
- 株式会社電通 (Dentsu)minorMarketing partnership for vertical positioning applications. Dentsu planned to collaborate on designing and developing customer experiences and marketing applications using floor-level location data, including advertising and coupon distribution.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
MetCom competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Quuppa: Finnish provider of indoor positioning systems using Bluetooth Low Direction Finding technology. Comparable as a real-time indoor positioning infrastructure provider for smart buildings, healthcare, security, and retail applications - similar enterprise use cases to MetCom's Pinnacle/MBS.
- Swift Navigation: US-based precise GNSS positioning company providing Skylark cloud-based correction services and Piksi GNSS receivers. Comparable as a positioning-as-a-service provider serving autonomous vehicles, robotics, and industrial customers with similar technology and customer profile.
- Polaris Wireless: US-based provider of software-based location and intelligence solutions for wireless networks, including z-axis vertical location for public safety E911. Direct comparable for vertical positioning as a service for first responders, addressing the same regulatory-driven market need.
- IndoorAtlas: Finland-based indoor positioning company using geomagnetic and Bluetooth beacon technology. Comparable as an indoor positioning-as-a-service provider targeting retail, venue analytics, and enterprise applications, addressing similar GPS weakness in indoor environments.
- NextNav: US-based PNT company (NASDAQ: NN) and MetCom's exclusive technology licensor and major shareholder. Operates the same TerraPoiNT/MBS terrestrial 3D PNT technology in the US with FCC certifications. Most directly comparable as both companies deploy the same technology stack in different geographies.
- Locata Corporation: Australian/US provider of terrestrial positioning networks (LocataNet) that operate as GPS alternatives using ground-based transmitters. Most analogous technology approach to MetCom's MBS, providing positioning independent of GNSS in challenging environments.
- u-blox: Swiss provider of positioning and wireless communication chips/modules for GNSS, Bluetooth, and short-range connectivity. Comparable as a positioning technology supplier targeting automotive, industrial, and consumer IoT applications with similar end markets.
Emerging players
- Septentrio: Belgian manufacturer of high-precision GNSS receivers for industrial applications including autonomous systems, robotics, and critical infrastructure. Comparable in serving PNT markets with similar reliability/anti-jamming requirements, though focused on hardware vs. MetCom's services model.
Broad incumbents
- Trimble: Large US-based positioning technology company serving construction, agriculture, geospatial, and transportation with GNSS hardware, software, and services. Comparable in positioning technology stack though broader portfolio and global scale dwarf MetCom's Japan-focused services.
- HERE Technologies: Global location data and technology platform providing maps, positioning, and location services across automotive, logistics, and enterprise. Comparable in offering 3D location data services, with 3D people flow analytics overlap and similar enterprise/government customer base.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MetCom social profiles
Digital presenceMetCom financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MetCom leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
MetCom funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MetCom M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MetCom
What does MetCom do?
MetCom provides terrestrial 3D positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services for the Japanese market through two complementary systems: (1) MBS (Metropolitan Beacon System), a network of ground-based transmitters operating in licensed 900MHz spectrum that delivers seamless outdoor/indoor 3D positioning with signal strength up to 100,000x greater than GPS; and (2) Pinnacle, a patent-protected vertical positioning service that uses smartphone barometric sensors compared against a national reference pressure station network to deliver floor-level altitude with 2–3m accuracy. The company also offers a high-precision time distribution service for critical infrastructure timing and a 3D people flow data analytics product.
Is MetCom a public or private company?
MetCom is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was MetCom founded?
MetCom was founded in 2019.
Where is MetCom based?
MetCom is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does MetCom make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Pinnacle Vertical Positioning Service (Subscription/Licensing) is the primary driver. The others are MBS 3D Positioning Infrastructure Licensing, international 5G PNT Technology Licensing (with NextNav) and 3D Location Big Data Analytics.
Who are MetCom's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Quuppa, Swift Navigation, Polaris Wireless, IndoorAtlas, NextNav, Locata Corporation and u-blox. Septentrio is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Trimble and HERE Technologies.
Does MetCom have an API?
Yes. MetCom provides SDK (Software Development Kit) for developers to integrate vertical positioning capabilities into applications. The SDK enables apps to incorporate Z-axis (vertical) positioning functionality using NextNav's technology. Developers can access SDK and technical information through the developer site at pilotservice.metcom.jp. Developer documentation is at pilotservice.metcom.jp/sdk.