Page 82 - SAMENA Trends - August-September 2025

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Rakuten Mobile Selects Cisco, Nokia and F5 as Partners for 5G SA Network

Rakuten Mobile, a global leading cloud-
native AI intelligent mobile network
operator, announced the selection of
Cisco, Nokia and F5 as partners for the
deployment of its 5G Standalone (SA)
mobile network. The strategic technology
partnerships with Cisco, Nokia and F5 will
significantly enhance Rakuten Mobile’s
network capabilities, simplify operations
through AI-driven systems, and drive
innovation for enhanced consumer and
enterprises mobile services across Japan.
Since its launch of full-scale commercial
mobile carrier services in 2019, Rakuten
Mobile has been transforming the global
telecommunications landscape with
affordable, high-quality mobile services
powered through cloud-native technology
and Open RAN standards. "Rakuten
Mobile disrupted the industry in 2019 with
the world's first end-to-end cloud-native,
virtualized mobile network built on Open
RAN. We're accelerating our evolution
towards fully autonomous network
operations," said Sharad Sriwastawa, streamline its operations with its AI-driven its 5G SA network — including
co-CEO and CTO of Rakuten Mobile. systems, improve network performance, authentication, user data management,
"Through the power of 5G, AI, and strategic and offer new, innovative services. This signaling, analytics and IMS voice —
partnerships with leading innovators like transformation is expected to significantly strengthening the network's reliability and
Cisco, Nokia, and F5, we are empowering enhance user experience by providing security. Enabled by multi-cloud
customers in Japan with state-of-the-art, faster speeds, greater reliability, and capabilities, Nokia CNFs will be deployed
secure, and sustainable mobile connectivity. expanded coverage. Cisco’s secure global on Rakuten Symphony's Cloud-Native
We are setting a new global benchmark for connectivity enhances the Cisco mobile Platform and Cloud-Native Storage (CNP,
intelligent, cloud-native mobile networks, Packet Core technology by delivering CNS), offering Rakuten Mobile the
meeting the dynamic needs of both networks that are resilient and secure, operational benefits of a cloud infrastructure
consumers and enterprises and solidifying establishing a critical foundation for AI shared with its other applications. Lifecycle
our position as a leading global innovator." innovation, and enabling service providers operations are automated through Nokia's
As demand for faster, more reliable, to become key players in the AI value cloud operations management tools,
and secure mobile connectivity grows, chain. “By combining Cisco's secure global designed for distributed, multi-tenant,
Rakuten Mobile is committed to providing connectivity technology and 5G mobile multi-vendor cloud infrastructures to
unparalleled services through state-of-the- Packet Core software with Rakuten Mobile's optimize and manage platform resource
art connectivity services. To maintain its revolutionary network, we aim to redefine usage. “Nokia’s expertise in 5G technology,
competitive edge and deliver seamless, the mobile landscape in Japan and set a coupled with our portfolio of industry-
modern digital experiences, Rakuten new standard for connectivity, quality and leading solutions, will enable Rakuten
Mobile sought out best in class partners to innovation," said Masum Mir, Senior Vice Mobile to deliver customized 5G services,”
deliver seamless 5G core network services President and General Manager, Provider said Henrique Vale, vice president, Cloud
for its mobile subscribers in Japan. Mobility at Cisco. "Together, we enhance and Network Services APAC market leader,
Cisco operational efficiency and user experience, Nokia. “This groundbreaking deployment
Rakuten Mobile will deploy Cisco’s mobile and position Rakuten Mobile to take the illustrates how Nokia makes it easy for
Packet Core Portfolio as the foundation lead in the delivery of enhanced services customers to reliably and securely use our
for the next phase of its network services with 5G Advanced and beyond in Japan.” products on the cloud CaaS platform of
evolution in Japan. The Cisco mobile Nokia their choice.”
Packet Core will enable Rakuten Mobile Nokia will provide Rakuten Mobile with
to seamlessly deploy 5G services, cloud-native network functions (CNFs) for

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