IC-NET

What IC-NET does

IC-NET Co., Ltd. (株式会社IC-NET) is a privately held Japanese ICT services group headquartered in Tokyo's Chiyoda-ku, originally founded in 1992 in Yamagata Prefecture by Mogami Shu as a software development and computer school business. The company reorganized as a corporation in 1996 and was renamed IC-NET in September 2006. It operates a diversified portfolio of ICT services across three wholly owned subsidiaries (Fruit Net, Recovery, and Tokiwa Computer Service), employing 46 staff standalone or 60 group-wide, with four operating branches (Tokyo headquarters, Osaka, Sendai, Yamagata).

The company's core product lines are: (1) nationwide internet service provider (ISP) operations across all 47 Japanese prefectures under multiple brands (ic-net, ひなねっと, i-port, UFO.net), including NTT flet's光 collaboration and DOCOMO光 services; (2) physical PC sales, repair, and buyback retail operations under the リカバリー brand concentrated in the Tohoku region; (3) enterprise IT infrastructure services including IC-VPS (Windows Server, RHEL, CentOS, Ubuntu), housing, VPN, and network construction; (4) IC-Camera enterprise surveillance systems; (5) IPv4 address transfer and brokerage services as a JPNIC-designated IP address management operator (AS 23810); (6) custom software development for mainframe, financial, POS, and web systems (including the proprietary IC-POSレジ package launched in 2008); and (7) apartment-wide Wi-Fi solutions (アパートまるごとWi-Fi, launched 2017).

IC-NET generates revenue through seven recurring and transactional streams: monthly ISP subscription fees (ic-net光, flet's, docomo光), one-time PC retail/repair/buyback transactions, subscription VPS and hosting fees, transaction fees on IPv4 address broker deals, professional services for custom system development and web builds, government/enterprise software subcontracts, and apartment Wi-Fi subscription contracts. Go-to-market combines sales-led direct field sales (targeting enterprises and government in Tokyo, Osaka, Sendai, Yamagata), channel partnerships (OEM/whitelabel ISPs and リカバリー franchise stores), and self-service online signup for consumer ISP. The company holds Privacy Mark (No. 23820095) and Safety/Security Mark (J0115) certifications, registered trademarks for both core brands, and partnerships with NTT Group, NEC, JPNIC, KDDI, Fujitsu, and NTT Data.

Name

IC-NET

Legal name

株式会社IC-NET

Website

https://ic-net.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IC-NET is a privately held Japanese ICT services group operating nationwide ISP services across all 47 prefectures, PC retail/repair under the リカバリー brand, enterprise IT infrastructure (IC-VPS), IPv4 address brokerage, and custom system development for government and enterprise clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Internet Service Provider Fees: Monthly subscription fees for internet connectivity services covering all 47 prefectures of Japan. Includes ic-net光 (flet's collaboration), NTT flet's, and docomo光 services. Revenue from domain registration, contract renewal, and information changes.
2. PC Sales, Repair, and Buyback Services: New and used PC retail sales, BTO (built-to-order) computers, repair services with free diagnostics, peripheral sales, and buyback/takeback services for individuals, businesses, and government entities. Operated under the リカバリー brand with physical store locations.
3. System Development Services: Custom software development including database construction (MS-SQL, Oracle), server building (Windows Server, Linux), and development in languages such as VB.NET, C#, JAVA, Perl, PHP, Ruby, COBOL. Services include mainframe operations, financial software, POS systems, and point card software.
4. IPv4 Address Transfer and Brokerage: Brokerage and transfer service for IPv4 addresses between sellers and buyers. Also purchases unused IPv4 addresses directly and resells company-held IPv4 addresses. Block sizes from /19 to /24 available.
5. VPS and IT Infrastructure Services: VPS provision services, server construction, housing services, VPN services, enterprise network camera systems, and network infrastructure building services.
6. Web System Development: Website creation, CMS (WordPress) customization, SEO services, SNS integration support, and web system development using Ruby on Rails and CakePHP frameworks.
7. Apartment Wi-Fi Services: まるごとWi-Fi service providing internet connectivity solutions for apartments and multi-unit housing, addressing vacancy issues and free internet provision for residents.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

IC-NET is a comprehensive ICT service provider offering nationwide internet connectivity (ISP services including ic-net光, NTT flet's collaboration, and docomo光), PC sales/repair/buyback under the リカバリ brand, enterprise IT infrastructure construction (IC-VPS, VPN, housing, network deployment), network camera surveillance (IC-Camera), IPv4 address transfer and brokerage as a JPNIC-designated IP management operator, and custom web and system development services. All services are delivered through its own operational backbone and supported by wholly owned subsidiaries (フルーツネット, リカバリ, ときわコンピュータサービス).

Product overview

IC-NET operates as a comprehensive ICT service provider offering a portfolio of interconnected services spanning internet connectivity (ISP), hardware sales and repair (リカバリー), network infrastructure (IC-VPS, IT infrastructure), network cameras (IC-Camera), IPv4 address transfer brokerage, and web/software development. The ISP services (IC-NET, ひなねっと, i-port, UFO.net) form the core connectivity layer; the PC repair/sales brand リカバリー and network camera product IC-Camera extend the offering into hardware; IC-VPS and IT infrastructure services provide enterprise-grade server and network solutions; the IPv4 address transfer service monetizes IP address assets; and IC-WEB/web system development services address digital presence and business process automation needs. All services are delivered through the company's own operational backbone and supported by its subsidiaries (株式会社フルーツネット, 株式会社リカバリー, ときわコンピュータサービス株式会社).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IC-Camera: Network camera product line for enterprise security monitoring
• アパートまるごとWi-Fi
• IPv4アドレス移転サービス
• ひなねっと (Hinanet)
• i-port
• UFO.net

Products and services

• IC-NET ISP Service (インターネットサービスプロバイダー) Nationwide Japanese internet service provider offering consumer broadband subscriptions including optical fiber (flets collaboration, docomo collaboration) with domain registration, contract renewal, and information-change processing. Targets individual consumers and small offices seeking residential or SOHO connectivity.
• リカバリ (Recovery) PC Sales, Repair, and Buyback Retail storefront service offering PC repair (free diagnostics), new and used PC sales, BTO computer builds, peripheral sales, and trade-in/buyback programs for individuals, businesses, and government entities. Operated as a physical chain under the リカバリ trademark.
• IC-Camera Network Camera System Network camera-based enterprise surveillance system for business facilities, enabling remote monitoring and security. Targets enterprises and government/public institutions needing facility surveillance.
• アパートまるごとWi-Fi (Whole-Building Apartment Wi-Fi) Managed internet connectivity for apartment buildings and multi-unit housing, providing Wi-Fi to vacant and occupied units as an amenity. Targets real estate owners and property managers seeking vacancy countermeasures and resident satisfaction.
• IPv4 Address Transfer Service Brokerage and transfer service for IPv4 address blocks between sellers and buyers, operated under a JPNIC IP-management designation. Handles block sizes from /19 (8,192 addresses) to /24 (256 addresses). Also purchases and resells company-held IPv4 blocks. Targets ISPs and network operators needing IPv4 capacity.
• IC-VPS and IT Infrastructure Construction Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting and IT infrastructure construction services supporting multiple OSes, plus housing, VPN, and enterprise Wi-Fi/network deployment. Targets enterprises and government agencies needing managed infrastructure.
• IC-WEB Web System Development Web and web system development service covering individual and business websites, CMS customization, SEO optimization, SNS integration, and backend systems on Ruby on Rails and CakePHP. Targets businesses seeking online presence and custom web applications.
• System Development and Consulting Custom system development and consulting spanning mainframe financial software, social security/medical applications, government systems, POS systems, and point card software. Includes IC-NET's proprietary IC-POSレジ package product. Targets enterprise and government IT buyers.
• OEM / Whitelabel ISP Service Whitelabel/OEM internet service provider offering that lets partner companies resell branded internet access without building their own ISP infrastructure. Includes consulting for operating virtual ISP shop businesses. Targets regional ISPs, MVNOs, and partner brands.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and moderate.

• NTTエレクトロニクス・NTTグループcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 September 2015Partnership with NTT for flet's collaboration services (光コラボレーション). DOCOMO光 provider partnership since 2015. Also partnered as optical collaboration provider for both NTT East and NTT West since 2015.
• KDDIグループmoderateTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2011High-speed mobile data communication service WiMAX partnership starting July 2011, offering IC-WiMAX service.
• NTTデータグループmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2011Government-oriented financial software development partnership with NTT Data Group starting February 2011.
• NTTNTT東日本NTT西路グループcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 February 2010Mobile data communication Foma course service partnership with NTT DoCoMo since February 2010. Also partnership for 10 gigabit course services since 2020.
• JPNIC (日本ネットワークインフォメーションセンター)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2008Designated IP address management operator (AS number: 23810) for IPv4 address transfer services. Handles IP address transfer procedures and redistribution of returned IPv4 addresses.
• 富士通グループmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2007Social security and medical-related software development partnership with Fujitsu Group starting June 2007.
• 日本ユニシスグループmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2002Bank-oriented software development partnership with Japan Unisys Group companies starting April 2002.
• NEC日本電気株式会社 / NECネッツエスアイ株式会社moderateTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2000Network solution business partnership established in November 2000 for collaboration on network solution services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• KAGOYA JAPAN: Japanese hosting and server provider offering VPS, dedicated servers, and managed infrastructure for SMBs. Comparable to IC-NET's VPS and enterprise network construction services for similar customer profiles.
• GMO Internet Group: Japan-focused internet conglomerate spanning ISP, domain registration, hosting, and security. Overlaps with IC-NET across ISP, VPS, and IPv4/domain services, and competes for SMB IT customers.
• Sakura Internet: Specialized Japanese VPS, dedicated server, and hosting provider with proprietary infrastructure. Directly comparable to IC-NET's IC-VPS and IT infrastructure construction services for SMB and developer customers.
• Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ): Major Japanese ISP and network services provider offering connectivity, VPS/hosting, and enterprise network solutions. Directly comparable to IC-NET's ISP, IC-VPS, and IPv4/network services portfolio, though IIJ operates at materially larger scale.
• ASAHI Net: Japanese ISP providing fiber, mobile, and hosting services to consumers and SMBs. Closely comparable to IC-NET's consumer ISP, Hikari collaboration, and VPS/hosting offerings in Japan.

Broad incumbents

• SCSK Corporation: Major Japanese systems integrator providing custom software, infrastructure, and consulting to enterprise and government. Comparable to IC-NET's system development and consulting line, though at materially larger scale.
• OCN (NTT Communications): NTT Communications' ISP brand covering consumer and SMB connectivity. Direct overlap with IC-NET's ISP/connectivity services, but with the operational depth and pricing power of the dominant Japanese carrier.
• So-net (Sony Network Communications): Major Japanese ISP and fiber provider owned by Sony, offering connectivity and value-added services. Comparable to IC-NET's consumer ISP business, with stronger brand reach but similar reseller economics over NTT lines.
• Biglobe (KDDI subsidiary): Established Japanese ISP and consumer broadband provider under KDDI. Comparable to IC-NET's ISP and mobile service offerings, but operates with the backing of a major carrier and significantly broader scale.

Regional players

• TOKAI Communications: Regional Japanese ISP and fiber operator with strong presence in Shizuoka and surrounding prefectures. Comparable regional ISP business model to IC-NET, though focused on a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ic_net

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 records

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 IC-NET