(Telecompaper) E-commerce group Rakuten has received approval to launch as Japan's fourth mobile provider, reports the Japan Times. An Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry advisory board approved Rakuten's application for a 4G mobile licence, which the company had submitted in February. The decision is expected to be formally endorsed by the ministry at a later date, marking the first time a new entrant has been approved since eAccess (now part of SoftBank) was granted bandwidth 13 years ago.