Rakuten pioneers cloud-native mobile networking
27 May 2020 | Research
Case study | PPTX and PDF (8 slides) | Next-Generation Wireless Networks
Many operators aim to migrate to cloud-native platforms, often in parallel with a 5G deployment, but only one has achieved this in a fully commercial network so far. Rakuten Mobile in Japan has undergone a challenging roll-out to seize an early-mover advantage with its open, multi-vendor, container-based 4G/5G network.
This case study provides:
- detailed analysis of the commercial drivers behind Rakuten Mobile’s ambitious network deployment
- a quantification of the costs, overheads and targeted revenue of the cloud-native approach
- an assessment of how far the new architecture will improve Rakuten’s competitive position in Japan, and the lessons for operators in other countries.
Author
Caroline Gabriel
Research Director, expert in network and cloud strategies and architectureRelated items
Perspective
Open Network Index: evaluating operators’ progress and attitudes to ‘openness’ across core, RAN and edge
Strategy report
Using AI to enable a radical but deployable radio platform
Article
Mobile operators should deploy Open RAN small cells from neutral hosts to densify 5G networks