You can save on education costs! Introducing ways to review communication costs required for tablet learning

Education is expensive. Online learning using tablets has become more common recently, but while the cost of travel to cram schools has decreased, some families may be facing increased communication costs.
In addition, some parents give their children cell phones from a young age to keep in touch with their children who are studying outside, such as at cram schools. While this is convenient because it allows them to be in touch at any time, it can increase communication costs and put a strain on the household budget.
Why not reconsider your internet connection so you can create an environment where you can study without worrying about communication costs? This article will introduce ways to study while keeping communication costs down and recommend communication methods. Use this as a reference and aim to reduce communication costs.

Table of contents

For some families, the more they study, the more their communication costs increase.

The GIGA School Initiative, promoted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, has expanded the introduction and implementation of learning using internet devices such as tablets in order to provide education that is tailored to each individual child.
In addition, there are more opportunities to use PCs and tablets for home learning, and internet devices are becoming more familiar to children.

<Usage rate of gigabit devices ^* >

* Gigabit devices are internet devices such as tablets that are provided or designated by the school.
source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications "Survey on the Internet Usage Environment of Young People in FY2022"

Next, let's take a look at the survey results regarding internet usage.

Reference: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications "Survey on the Internet Usage Environment of Young People in FY2022"

The survey results show that the most common use of the internet is for studying, and when considered together with the usage rate of gigabit devices mentioned above, it can be inferred that students are using internet devices to study not only at school but also at home.
Even if a tablet or other device is provided by the school, when using the tablet or computer for home study, the communication costs are often the responsibility of the household.
The harder students study, the heavier the burden of communication costs becomes, putting a strain on household finances and potentially creating new educational disparities.

How to save on communication costs without reducing study efficiency

If you have access to the Internet, you can study using devices such as tablets and computers regardless of location.
However, using the Internet generally requires communication costs, so expanding your learning opportunities will also increase your communication costs.
If you want to save on communication costs without sacrificing your learning efficiency, consider the following methods.

・Connect to your home internet connection and download the study materials
・Connect to the store's free Wi-Fi and study
・Change your carrier

We will explain each method.

Connect to your home internet connection and download the study materials

If you have a flat-rate internet plan at home, you can probably use it without worrying about data usage and fees. Download study materials using your home internet connection and view them offline when you're out and about.
Also, while you need an internet connection to submit assignments, you can write your answers and essays offline. Finish writing your essays while you're out and about, and submit the data that requires uploading at home.

Connect to the store's free Wi-Fi and study

Many restaurants and cafes have free Wi-Fi. Anyone can connect to the internet for free by selecting the SSID (service set name) in the Wi-Fi settings on their smartphone and entering the password printed on the table, so it can also be used for tablet learning.
However, when security measures are not implemented for free Wi-Fi, there is a high risk of information leaks and virus infections.

In particular, you should be extremely careful about information leaks. Some free Wi-Fi networks may have their privacy separator function turned off, and in the worst case scenario, third parties may be able to intercept your communications.
In case of an emergency, install security software on the device you use for study to ensure safe use.
Additionally, some restaurants and cafes prohibit studying or impose a time limit on use. It is important to follow the rules so as not to cause trouble to other customers.

Change your carrier

If you are using a tablet exclusively for home learning, you do not need to sign a separate contract with a telecommunications company. You can connect via Wi-Fi using your home internet line. The most common communication method is to connect a fixed line such as an optical fiber line to a wireless LAN router and use the radio waves emitted from it (Wi-Fi) to connect to the internet.

However, if you plan to use your tablet outside of the home, you will need to consider either signing up with a telecommunications company or signing up for a mobile router to carry with you along with your tablet.
For some people, signing up for two lines, one for home use and one for travel, can be a strain on their household budget. If fees of the telecommunications carrier you plan to use are high, consider switching to a cheaper carrier or plan. By switching carriers or plans, you may be able to reduce your communication fees even if your data usage remains the same. In the case of mobile routers, many are bundled with a SIM card contract, so switching services may be an option.

Switching carriers can sometimes be completed as quickly as the same day. Even a small reduction in monthly fees can make a big difference over the course of a year. Even if you don't think your charges are too high, it's a good idea to take another look at fees.

povo2.0 allows you to purchase only the amount of data you need, saving you money

If you choose a telecommunications carrier with a focus on telecommunications fees, we recommend an online-only brand. If you are not sure which brand to choose, please consider au 's online-only brand "povo2.0" ^(*1).
povo2.0 is a system that allows you to purchase data capacity only as much as you need. The basic monthly fees is 0 yen ^(*2)(*3)(*4), and you can freely choose a paid Topping. For example, the following paid Topping are available.

Data Top-up 1GB (7 days) tax included 390yen/time
Data Top-up 3GB (30 days) tax included 990yen/time
Data Top-up 20GB (30 days) tax included 2,700yen/time
Data Top-up 60GB (90 days) tax included 6,490 yen/time
Data Top-up 150GB (180 days) tax included 12,980yen/time

Even if the amount of data you use varies from month to month, povo2.0 allows you to use it efficiently.
In addition, Unlimited data (24 hours) is 330 yen/time tax included). ^(※5) There are also paid Topping available. If you use it on days when you want to concentrate on studying, you will get even better value for your money.
povo2.0 is an eSIM ^(※6) However, it is also compatible with SIM cards (standard SIM, microSIM, nanoSIM).It can also be used on tablets such as iPads, so you can use it for everyday study.

*1: This is an online-only plan, so all procedures and support are online. povo2.0 Please contact us through the application or the official website. 2: Additional fees such as handling charges may apply. validity for 180 days or more, or if you have never purchased Topping for a fee, your usage may be suspended or your contract may be terminated. Please understand this in advance.
5 lines under the same name ^(*) For the cumulative sixth line and thereafter, a contract administration fee of tax included 3,850 yen/line will be charged.
*Includes lines that have been terminated or cancelled by the Company within the past year. *3: Domestic calls are charged separately at tax included 22 yen/30 seconds, and SMS sending is charged separately at tax included 3.3 yen/text (up to 70 characters). Depending on the model, up to 670 two-byte characters can be sent; up to 134 characters are counted as two SMS messages, and thereafter one SMS message is charged for every 67 characters. Calling rates may differ for some calls, such as calls to satellite phones. For more information, please contact this way (direction close to the speaker or towards the speaker) The following is a list of the most common problems with the "C" in the "C" column.
Reference: "povo2.0 Plan Details" (povo) *4: If data Topping is not purchased, the maximum sending/receiving rate is 128 kbps. *5: Communication speed may be limited during network congestion or when using videos, cloud games, etc. (and others in the same manner) 6: eSIM compatible handsets only.

If you are concerned about the burden of educational expenses, review your communication costs with povo2.0

The use of online learning is increasing every year. If you are concerned about the burden of educational expenses, why not reassess your communication costs?
With povo2.0, you can purchase only the amount of data you need, so even if your internet usage fluctuates from month to month, you can use it without waste.
Of course, povo2.0 can also be used on your tablet device. By inserting a SIM card into a tablet device such as an iPad, you can comfortably use online learning even when you are away from home.
If you are concerned about your monthly data usage or would like to review your communication costs, please consider this plan.

*The names of products and services mentioned in this article are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies. *"Wi-Fi", "Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Miracast (TM)", "Miracast (TM)", and "Wi-Fi/Wi-Fi 6" are registered trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

■ Supervisor information

Name: Ryosuke Kawamura
Profile: Representative of the website management business "GreenEchoes Studio" and an expert on communication cost savings. In addition to supervising, fact-checking and writing articles for various media, he also uses his experience as a writer to ensure fairness in article composition and expression to ensure easy understanding for readers. He is active in various media, utilizing his deep knowledge of line-related services gained from running his own company's website.