Japan’s Largest Telco NTT Docomo 12 Hours Down Due to DDoS Attack

NTT Docomo, Japan's largest mobile operator, confirmed it was targeted by a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack on January 2, 2025. The cyberattack disrupted several services, including the company's website, news platform, and mobile payment systems, leaving users without access for nearly 12 hours.

The disruption began at approximately 5:27 a.m. local time and persisted until 4:10 p.m. Access issues affected a range of services, including the goo portal, the OCN homepage, d-menu news, and Lemino's search function. Other impacted platforms included GOLF me and search capabilities for d-payment shopping, although the mobile money service itself briefly faltered from 10:50 to 11:08 a.m.

“From around 5:27 a.m. on January 2, 2025, some services, including the goo portal and NTT Docomo services, became difficult to access. Access was restored at 4:10 p.m., although updates to some content may still be delayed. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused.” – Docomo

While the attack caused significant inconvenience, NTT Docomo assured in its announcement that mobile and core communication services remained unaffected. In an official statement, the company apologized for the outage and pledged ongoing efforts to ensure system stability and timely updates.

NTT Docomo, headquartered in Tokyo, is a telecom giant with tens of millions of subscribers. As Japan's largest mobile carrier, the company is a critical player in the nation's digital infrastructure. This incident is the latest in a series of cyberattacks targeting prominent Japanese firms, underscoring growing threats to the country's digital landscape. In recent months, Japanese airlines, insurance companies, and even entertainment conglomerates have faced similar incidents, often involving ransomware or DDoS attacks.

This attack highlights a worrying trend of rising cyberattacks on critical telecom infrastructure globally. Although there's no evidence this particular incident compromised sensitive user data, it demonstrates the operational vulnerabilities inherent in such expansive networks and the dire consequences cyberattacks can have.