SoftBank has agreed to enter into partnership with Line’s mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) subsidiary in a deal that will see the Japanese telecoms giant acquire a 51 per cent stake in the company.

As part of the agreement, SoftBank will take on a third-party allocation of new shares in Line Mobile, while agreeing to promote the MVNO business. The transaction is expected to be completed in March this year.

“Through this partnership between Line – which brought to light a new form of communication in the smartphone generation – and SoftBank – the first carrier in Japan to carry the iPhone and drove the smartphone market – we will bring together our mutual strengths and strive to further improve users experiences with Line Mobile and continue to provide an appealing service that builds value in response to users diverse needs,” said Ayano Kado, representative director and president of Line Mobile.

Line Mobile is a relatively young MVNO, only beginning to offer full operation in September 2016. It focuses on wanting to be simple to use and allows people to use its services, as well as popular social networks like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, without using any data. Current Line Mobile customers will not see any changes to the service as a result of the SoftBank partnership.