Rakuten wesentlich besser als Rocket
15.11.14 10:58
#1
Libuda
Rakuten wesentlich besser als Rocket
- und daher habe ich mir nach dem Einstieg bei Alibaba, die inzwischem mehr als 20% gut gemacht haben, auch einige Rakutens gekauft.
Look Out Amazon, Here Comes...Rakuten?
Japanese e-commerce firm Rakuten announced on Tuesday it is acquiring Ebates for $1 billion.
The acquisition, which Rakuten hinted at last week, is part of the Japanese company’s push to grow its base beyond its domestic market and hopefully, become a global player. Having made some $1.2 billion acquisitions to date along these lines, this is Rakuten’s most ambitious move to date.
However, investors are dubious that the company can absorb yet another foreign acquisition, much less one the size of Ebates, despite Rakuten’s strong cash position.
Then there is the ever-present Amazon, which dominates the e-commerce market in the U.S. Few believe it will falter in the face of Chinese giant Alibaba, much less a Rakuten-Ebates combo.
Rakuten Goes Forth
Not surprisingly, Rakuten says it is undaunted. For starters, it has assembled a very interesting mix of acquisitions. There is messaging app Viber, which it purchased for $900 million in February, the Canadian ebook offering Kobo, Spanish video service Wuaki.tv, Viki, a digital content platform and Buy.com.
Now it has picked up Ebates.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikamorphy/2014/09/...ere-comes-rakuten/
Look Out Amazon, Here Comes...Rakuten?
Japanese e-commerce firm Rakuten announced on Tuesday it is acquiring Ebates for $1 billion.
The acquisition, which Rakuten hinted at last week, is part of the Japanese company’s push to grow its base beyond its domestic market and hopefully, become a global player. Having made some $1.2 billion acquisitions to date along these lines, this is Rakuten’s most ambitious move to date.
However, investors are dubious that the company can absorb yet another foreign acquisition, much less one the size of Ebates, despite Rakuten’s strong cash position.
Then there is the ever-present Amazon, which dominates the e-commerce market in the U.S. Few believe it will falter in the face of Chinese giant Alibaba, much less a Rakuten-Ebates combo.
Rakuten Goes Forth
Not surprisingly, Rakuten says it is undaunted. For starters, it has assembled a very interesting mix of acquisitions. There is messaging app Viber, which it purchased for $900 million in February, the Canadian ebook offering Kobo, Spanish video service Wuaki.tv, Viki, a digital content platform and Buy.com.
Now it has picked up Ebates.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikamorphy/2014/09/...ere-comes-rakuten/
14154 Postings ausgeblendet.
03.04.26 16:08
#14156
Libuda
Redesigning OSS for 4D reality of NTN
Rakuten Symphony on redesigning OSS for 4D reality of NTN
written by Sulagna Saha March 31, 2026
The realities of non-terrestrial networks increasingly show that coverage depends as much on timing as location
“When we compare NTN with traditional telecom operations, there is one fundamental shift. In traditional telecom, the base station or antenna is static while the users are mobile. In NTN, that model changes: the users are relatively static in a given area, but the antennas [satellites] are moving,” said Anshul Bhatt, chief product officer of the OSS (Operations Support Systems) business unit at Rakuten Symphony, a subsidiary of Japan’s Rakuten Group that sells OSS/BSS and automation solutions.
Another important aspect is provisioning. A satellite passes over multiple countries during the course of a day, and that requires geological cell provisioning that is adaptive to its schedules, and changing situations.
“Furthermore, one NTN provider will receive requests from multiple MNOs [Mobile Network Operators] —like Rakuten in Japan, Reliance Jio in India, or AT&T in the U.S. — all wanting to configure coverage on the same satellite. The NTN operator must integrate with the ticketing and configuration systems of all these different MNOs.”
Bhatt also talked about data sovereignty complications that come with bypassing terrestrial borders. “For an NTN operator providing global service, data integrity, and localization are major issues. If you serve an European telco, you cannot take that data out of Europe, even if the satellite passes over the whole world.”
Rakuten Symphony’s solution
Rakuten Symphony has developed what it calls the industry’s first NTN-specific OSS system to tackle some of these issues. The solution comes with dynamic topology awareness, real-time intelligence, and automated provisioning for improved monitoring and assurance of NTN networks. It includes a satellite-specific dashboard view that integrates with global databases, like the TLE (Two-Line Element) and SATCOM, to correlate satellite paths with terrestrial network services.
“This is the first time an OSS stack is being redesigned specifically for NTN,” Bhatt said. “We were able to do this because Rakuten Mobile required it, and our platform architecture was flexible enough to adapt its data model and inventory schema.”
Measuring real customer experience is just as important to assure NTN networks, and for that, Rakuten Symphony is using solar-powered probe boxes to keep the standards handsets working around the clock in remote locations where power supply is often inconsistent.
The company currently has its architecture deployed in eight regions globally to adapt to regional regulatory requirements, Bhatt said.
The solution is deployed in-house at Rakuten Mobile, while the company is also working with operators and satellite providers in the geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite space, Bhatt said.
https://www.rcrwireless.com/20260331/...oss-for-the-4d-reality-of-ntn
written by Sulagna Saha March 31, 2026
The realities of non-terrestrial networks increasingly show that coverage depends as much on timing as location
“When we compare NTN with traditional telecom operations, there is one fundamental shift. In traditional telecom, the base station or antenna is static while the users are mobile. In NTN, that model changes: the users are relatively static in a given area, but the antennas [satellites] are moving,” said Anshul Bhatt, chief product officer of the OSS (Operations Support Systems) business unit at Rakuten Symphony, a subsidiary of Japan’s Rakuten Group that sells OSS/BSS and automation solutions.
Another important aspect is provisioning. A satellite passes over multiple countries during the course of a day, and that requires geological cell provisioning that is adaptive to its schedules, and changing situations.
“Furthermore, one NTN provider will receive requests from multiple MNOs [Mobile Network Operators] —like Rakuten in Japan, Reliance Jio in India, or AT&T in the U.S. — all wanting to configure coverage on the same satellite. The NTN operator must integrate with the ticketing and configuration systems of all these different MNOs.”
Bhatt also talked about data sovereignty complications that come with bypassing terrestrial borders. “For an NTN operator providing global service, data integrity, and localization are major issues. If you serve an European telco, you cannot take that data out of Europe, even if the satellite passes over the whole world.”
Rakuten Symphony’s solution
Rakuten Symphony has developed what it calls the industry’s first NTN-specific OSS system to tackle some of these issues. The solution comes with dynamic topology awareness, real-time intelligence, and automated provisioning for improved monitoring and assurance of NTN networks. It includes a satellite-specific dashboard view that integrates with global databases, like the TLE (Two-Line Element) and SATCOM, to correlate satellite paths with terrestrial network services.
“This is the first time an OSS stack is being redesigned specifically for NTN,” Bhatt said. “We were able to do this because Rakuten Mobile required it, and our platform architecture was flexible enough to adapt its data model and inventory schema.”
Measuring real customer experience is just as important to assure NTN networks, and for that, Rakuten Symphony is using solar-powered probe boxes to keep the standards handsets working around the clock in remote locations where power supply is often inconsistent.
The company currently has its architecture deployed in eight regions globally to adapt to regional regulatory requirements, Bhatt said.
The solution is deployed in-house at Rakuten Mobile, while the company is also working with operators and satellite providers in the geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite space, Bhatt said.
https://www.rcrwireless.com/20260331/...oss-for-the-4d-reality-of-ntn
03.04.26 22:10
#14157
Libuda
Is Your Mobile Plan Ready for the Crowds?
Golden Week 2026: Is Your Mobile Plan Ready for the Crowds?
Golden Week puts Japanese mobile networks under pressure. Here's what to check on your plan before the holiday rush — and what to do if you're not covered.
Published March 30, 2026
https://www.japanmobileguide.com/blog/...-week-2026-mobile-plan-japan
Golden Week puts Japanese mobile networks under pressure. Here's what to check on your plan before the holiday rush — and what to do if you're not covered.
Published March 30, 2026
https://www.japanmobileguide.com/blog/...-week-2026-mobile-plan-japan
05.04.26 14:19
#14158
Libuda
Samsung secures Open RAN deal with Rakuten Mobile
Samsung secures Open RAN deal with Rakuten Mobile in Japan
March 03, 2026
Samsung Networks has secured a contract to provide its Open RAN 5G radios to Japanese telco Rakuten Mobile.
The announcement was one of many made by the Korean vendor during this week's Mobile World Congress (MWC) event in Barcelona, Spain, as the company also announced separate virtualized RAN (vRAN) collaborations with Nvidia and Vodafone.
Samsung's deal with Rakuten will see the company support the carrier's nationwide mobile network rollout across Japan.
According to Samsung, the lightweight radios can be easily mounted on buildings and poles, enabling seamless installation and capacity enhancements in dense urban environments.
https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/...with-several-telcos-to/
March 03, 2026
Samsung Networks has secured a contract to provide its Open RAN 5G radios to Japanese telco Rakuten Mobile.
The announcement was one of many made by the Korean vendor during this week's Mobile World Congress (MWC) event in Barcelona, Spain, as the company also announced separate virtualized RAN (vRAN) collaborations with Nvidia and Vodafone.
Samsung's deal with Rakuten will see the company support the carrier's nationwide mobile network rollout across Japan.
According to Samsung, the lightweight radios can be easily mounted on buildings and poles, enabling seamless installation and capacity enhancements in dense urban environments.
https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/...with-several-telcos-to/
05.04.26 21:46
#14159
Libuda
The Future of Farming is Here
The Future of Farming is Here: Rakuten Symphony's Data-Driven Approach
April 3, 2026
The future of farming is here, and it is data-driven. Farming, which has been dependent on experience for so long, is evolving rapidly. It is evolving into a new era of farming, where every decision is optimized in real time. Rakuten Symphony is helping to usher in this new era of farming by integrating Private 5G, cloud-native infrastructure built on Kubernetes, and Artificial Intelligence. The result is a smart farm, which can help increase yields, reduce costs, and increase efficiency.
Why Agriculture Needs Innovation Now
The agriculture sector is in trouble. Farmers need to increase food production with fewer resources. At the same time, they have to cope with issues such as weather changes. Moreover, farming has been dependent on traditional methods for a very long time. The traditional methods of farming are no longer sufficient.
What farming needs today is immediacy. Farmers need insights in real time. They need to take decisions in real time. Rakuten Symphony is helping to address this need by moving from data collection to data-driven decisions in real time. By integrating Private 5G, cloud-native infrastructure built on Kubernetes, and Artificial Intelligence, Rakuten Symphony is helping to usher in a new era of farming.
The Blueprint for a Smart Farm
The solution for smart farming by Rakuten Symphony is built on three key pillars:
Private 5G: Reliable Connectivity
Unlike public networks or Wi-Fi, Private 5G provides reliable high-speed connectivity. It can provide consistent performance even in remote areas.
Cloud-Native Infrastructure: Scalable Foundation
Rakuten Cloud’s solution is built on Kubernetes. Kubernetes is a container-based solution that allows for the flexible deployment of applications on devices and in the cloud.
Artificial Intelligence: Intelligent Decision-Making
AI takes raw data from the field and uses it to create predictions. It then uses these predictions to make proactive decisions in real-time to achieve better results in the field.
What Sets Rakuten Symphony Apart
Rakuten Symphony has a unique advantage in the industry due to its expertise in creating cloud-native mobile networks. This expertise gives Rakuten Symphony a competitive advantage in the agricultural industry:
Cloud-Native by Design: A highly flexible system designed to meet the needs of any farm while offering edge computing capabilities.
Advanced AI Capabilities: AI plays a significant role in decision-making in the agricultural industry by using computer vision and machine learning algorithms.
Leadership in Private 5G: Rakuten Symphony has expertise in delivering high-performing networks in a highly open ecosystem.
Real-World Applications and Benefits
Rakuten Symphony’s platform has a range of applications in the agricultural industry:
Precision Irrigation: Real-time data is used to make optimal decisions regarding irrigation systems.
Early Disease and Pest Detection: AI is used in computer vision to detect diseases in crops early.Autonomous Equipment: Tractors and equipment are connected and can operate independently with minimal human intervention.
Livestock Monitoring: Wearables and sensors monitor the health of livestock.
These applications offer significant business benefits:
Reduced water and chemical consumption by optimizing resource management.
Increased crop yields by optimizing growing conditions.
Reduced costs by optimizing resource management and increasing efficiency.
Faster, better decision-making with real-time insights.
Seamless scalability across multiple farms and regions.
A Clear Advantage Over Traditional Approaches
The Rakuten Symphony solution has a significant advantage over traditional approaches to farming technologies:
Better than IoT + Cloud: Unlike traditional solutions, Rakuten does not depend on cloud processing, which is a delayed process. Rakuten provides edge inference, where decisions can be made within a matter of seconds.
Better than Wi-Fi and LoRa: Wi-Fi is not reliable, and LoRa cannot be used for high-bandwidth solutions. Rakuten provides a solution that has a strong range and can be utilized for a variety of solutions, from sensors to autonomous vehicles.
Better than a Fragmented Ecosystem: While Rakuten's competitors provide a number of tools, Rakuten provides a single solution that can handle multiple applications across a number of different environments.
The Future of Farming
Rakuten Symphony is building a distributed, real-time operating system for agriculture. We're bringing connectivity, compute, and intelligence together to allow a farm to optimize every aspect of its operations. Thus, we're providing a solution where Private 5G provides a backbone, Kubernetes provides scalability, and AI provides intelligence. Contact us to schedule a technical discussion and meet us at the IT Summit Agro 2026 on April 8.
https://symphony.rakuten.com/blog/...symphonys-data-driven-revolution
April 3, 2026
The future of farming is here, and it is data-driven. Farming, which has been dependent on experience for so long, is evolving rapidly. It is evolving into a new era of farming, where every decision is optimized in real time. Rakuten Symphony is helping to usher in this new era of farming by integrating Private 5G, cloud-native infrastructure built on Kubernetes, and Artificial Intelligence. The result is a smart farm, which can help increase yields, reduce costs, and increase efficiency.
Why Agriculture Needs Innovation Now
The agriculture sector is in trouble. Farmers need to increase food production with fewer resources. At the same time, they have to cope with issues such as weather changes. Moreover, farming has been dependent on traditional methods for a very long time. The traditional methods of farming are no longer sufficient.
What farming needs today is immediacy. Farmers need insights in real time. They need to take decisions in real time. Rakuten Symphony is helping to address this need by moving from data collection to data-driven decisions in real time. By integrating Private 5G, cloud-native infrastructure built on Kubernetes, and Artificial Intelligence, Rakuten Symphony is helping to usher in a new era of farming.
The Blueprint for a Smart Farm
The solution for smart farming by Rakuten Symphony is built on three key pillars:
Private 5G: Reliable Connectivity
Unlike public networks or Wi-Fi, Private 5G provides reliable high-speed connectivity. It can provide consistent performance even in remote areas.
Cloud-Native Infrastructure: Scalable Foundation
Rakuten Cloud’s solution is built on Kubernetes. Kubernetes is a container-based solution that allows for the flexible deployment of applications on devices and in the cloud.
Artificial Intelligence: Intelligent Decision-Making
AI takes raw data from the field and uses it to create predictions. It then uses these predictions to make proactive decisions in real-time to achieve better results in the field.
What Sets Rakuten Symphony Apart
Rakuten Symphony has a unique advantage in the industry due to its expertise in creating cloud-native mobile networks. This expertise gives Rakuten Symphony a competitive advantage in the agricultural industry:
Cloud-Native by Design: A highly flexible system designed to meet the needs of any farm while offering edge computing capabilities.
Advanced AI Capabilities: AI plays a significant role in decision-making in the agricultural industry by using computer vision and machine learning algorithms.
Leadership in Private 5G: Rakuten Symphony has expertise in delivering high-performing networks in a highly open ecosystem.
Real-World Applications and Benefits
Rakuten Symphony’s platform has a range of applications in the agricultural industry:
Precision Irrigation: Real-time data is used to make optimal decisions regarding irrigation systems.
Early Disease and Pest Detection: AI is used in computer vision to detect diseases in crops early.Autonomous Equipment: Tractors and equipment are connected and can operate independently with minimal human intervention.
Livestock Monitoring: Wearables and sensors monitor the health of livestock.
These applications offer significant business benefits:
Reduced water and chemical consumption by optimizing resource management.
Increased crop yields by optimizing growing conditions.
Reduced costs by optimizing resource management and increasing efficiency.
Faster, better decision-making with real-time insights.
Seamless scalability across multiple farms and regions.
A Clear Advantage Over Traditional Approaches
The Rakuten Symphony solution has a significant advantage over traditional approaches to farming technologies:
Better than IoT + Cloud: Unlike traditional solutions, Rakuten does not depend on cloud processing, which is a delayed process. Rakuten provides edge inference, where decisions can be made within a matter of seconds.
Better than Wi-Fi and LoRa: Wi-Fi is not reliable, and LoRa cannot be used for high-bandwidth solutions. Rakuten provides a solution that has a strong range and can be utilized for a variety of solutions, from sensors to autonomous vehicles.
Better than a Fragmented Ecosystem: While Rakuten's competitors provide a number of tools, Rakuten provides a single solution that can handle multiple applications across a number of different environments.
The Future of Farming
Rakuten Symphony is building a distributed, real-time operating system for agriculture. We're bringing connectivity, compute, and intelligence together to allow a farm to optimize every aspect of its operations. Thus, we're providing a solution where Private 5G provides a backbone, Kubernetes provides scalability, and AI provides intelligence. Contact us to schedule a technical discussion and meet us at the IT Summit Agro 2026 on April 8.
https://symphony.rakuten.com/blog/...symphonys-data-driven-revolution
05.04.26 22:43
#14160
Libuda
Rakuten owning 31 million AST-shares
ST SpaceMobile Inc. (ASTS) Flies 10.3% Ahead of BlueBird 7 Launch
Fri, April 3, 2026
AST SpaceMobile extended its winning streak to a third straight session on Thursday, surging 10.28 percent to close at $92.62 apiece, as investors loaded portfolios ahead of the looming launch of its BlueBird 7.
In a social media post by Blue Origin, it said that AST SpaceMobile Inc.’s (NASDAQ:ASTS) next-generation BlueBird 7 satellite is targeted to take off no earlier than Friday, April 10.
BlueBird 7 is one of the two next-generation satellites, next to BlueBird 6. As compared with the latter, the former is nearly 2,400 square meters in size and 3.5 times bigger than BlueBirds 1 to 5. It also features the largest commercial communications array in low Earth orbit.
https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/...s-064126911.html
Fri, April 3, 2026
AST SpaceMobile extended its winning streak to a third straight session on Thursday, surging 10.28 percent to close at $92.62 apiece, as investors loaded portfolios ahead of the looming launch of its BlueBird 7.
In a social media post by Blue Origin, it said that AST SpaceMobile Inc.’s (NASDAQ:ASTS) next-generation BlueBird 7 satellite is targeted to take off no earlier than Friday, April 10.
BlueBird 7 is one of the two next-generation satellites, next to BlueBird 6. As compared with the latter, the former is nearly 2,400 square meters in size and 3.5 times bigger than BlueBirds 1 to 5. It also features the largest commercial communications array in low Earth orbit.
https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/...s-064126911.html
06.04.26 11:24
#14161
Libuda
How FAST/AVOD is Redefining Reach
The Audience Shift: How FAST/AVOD is Redefining Reach (Part 1)
Discover how new formats on Connected TV are driving recognition, engagement, and purchases.
November 17, 2025
A Changing Definition of “TV”
For decades, television meant one thing: scheduled programming on Linear channels reaching mass audiences in real time.
But that definition is no longer enough. Audiences have fragmented, carving their viewing time across platforms that deliver more control, flexibility, and choice.
Enter FAST (Free Ad-Supported TV) and AVOD (Advertising-Based Video on Demand): the new engines of reach in an evolving media landscape.
Both formats share a simple promise: premium content, free to watch, funded by advertising. FAST offers linear-style channels delivered through connected TVs with scheduled programming, while AVOD provides on-demand access to movies and series supported by ads.
For advertisers, these models recreate the scale and storytelling power of television with the added benefit of digital efficiency, measurable results, and access to audiences that Linear can no longer reach.
Why FAST/AVOD Matters Now
FAST and AVOD are no longer “emerging.” They’ve become a mainstream viewing habit across Europe. Recent Rakuten TV research shows that 71% of viewers now watch FAST/AVOD at least weekly: A clear signal that free, ad-supported streaming has cemented its place in the media mix.
What’s driving this momentum? The answer is simple: value.
Audiences have grown more selective about paid subscriptions and more open to ad-supported viewing as long as the exchange feels fair. The same study found that over three-quarters of viewers (76%) are happy or neutral about the volume of ads they encounter on FAST/AVOD platforms.
That represents a powerful shift in consumer mindset: ads are no longer the cost of interruption, but the cost of access: A trade audiences are comfortable making.
Meet the New TV Audience
FAST/AVOD also unlocks access to the viewers Linear has lost: the cord-cutters and cord-nevers.
Cord-cutters are those who once paid for traditional TV subscriptions but have since moved entirely to streaming.
Cord-nevers are younger audiences who never subscribed in the first place. Together, they represent a rapidly growing segment that Linear campaigns simply cannot reach.
These audiences are digitally native, open to discovery, and value-driven. They represent an opportunity for brands to build awareness and loyalty among demographics that are otherwise invisible in traditional campaign planning.
What It Means for Advertisers
For brands and agencies, the implications are clear:
FAST/AVOD delivers reliable reach at scale across platforms where audiences now spend their time.
It complements Linear TV rather than competes with it, helping extend total campaign coverage.
And perhaps most importantly, it provides a brand-safe, high-quality environment where ad receptivity remains strong.
FAST/AVOD has become more than a tactical buy – it’s a strategic bridge between traditional broadcast and the future of connected TV advertising.
Explore the Full Insights
This article draws on data from Rakuten TV’s Unlocking New Audiences research, based on a June 2025 survey of consumers across Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. The study explores attitudes and viewing behaviour across the TV and streaming landscape to uncover how audiences engage with FAST/AVOD, Linear TV, and SVOD services.
https://www.enterprise.rakuten.tv/insights/fast-avod-redefining-reach/
Discover how new formats on Connected TV are driving recognition, engagement, and purchases.
November 17, 2025
A Changing Definition of “TV”
For decades, television meant one thing: scheduled programming on Linear channels reaching mass audiences in real time.
But that definition is no longer enough. Audiences have fragmented, carving their viewing time across platforms that deliver more control, flexibility, and choice.
Enter FAST (Free Ad-Supported TV) and AVOD (Advertising-Based Video on Demand): the new engines of reach in an evolving media landscape.
Both formats share a simple promise: premium content, free to watch, funded by advertising. FAST offers linear-style channels delivered through connected TVs with scheduled programming, while AVOD provides on-demand access to movies and series supported by ads.
For advertisers, these models recreate the scale and storytelling power of television with the added benefit of digital efficiency, measurable results, and access to audiences that Linear can no longer reach.
Why FAST/AVOD Matters Now
FAST and AVOD are no longer “emerging.” They’ve become a mainstream viewing habit across Europe. Recent Rakuten TV research shows that 71% of viewers now watch FAST/AVOD at least weekly: A clear signal that free, ad-supported streaming has cemented its place in the media mix.
What’s driving this momentum? The answer is simple: value.
Audiences have grown more selective about paid subscriptions and more open to ad-supported viewing as long as the exchange feels fair. The same study found that over three-quarters of viewers (76%) are happy or neutral about the volume of ads they encounter on FAST/AVOD platforms.
That represents a powerful shift in consumer mindset: ads are no longer the cost of interruption, but the cost of access: A trade audiences are comfortable making.
Meet the New TV Audience
FAST/AVOD also unlocks access to the viewers Linear has lost: the cord-cutters and cord-nevers.
Cord-cutters are those who once paid for traditional TV subscriptions but have since moved entirely to streaming.
Cord-nevers are younger audiences who never subscribed in the first place. Together, they represent a rapidly growing segment that Linear campaigns simply cannot reach.
These audiences are digitally native, open to discovery, and value-driven. They represent an opportunity for brands to build awareness and loyalty among demographics that are otherwise invisible in traditional campaign planning.
What It Means for Advertisers
For brands and agencies, the implications are clear:
FAST/AVOD delivers reliable reach at scale across platforms where audiences now spend their time.
It complements Linear TV rather than competes with it, helping extend total campaign coverage.
And perhaps most importantly, it provides a brand-safe, high-quality environment where ad receptivity remains strong.
FAST/AVOD has become more than a tactical buy – it’s a strategic bridge between traditional broadcast and the future of connected TV advertising.
Explore the Full Insights
This article draws on data from Rakuten TV’s Unlocking New Audiences research, based on a June 2025 survey of consumers across Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. The study explores attitudes and viewing behaviour across the TV and streaming landscape to uncover how audiences engage with FAST/AVOD, Linear TV, and SVOD services.
https://www.enterprise.rakuten.tv/insights/fast-avod-redefining-reach/
06.04.26 12:19
#14162
Libuda
Going all in on V-commerce with YouTube
Rakuten is going all in on V-commerce with YouTube
6 days ago
In February 2026, Google and Rakuten announced a landmark partnership to bring the YouTube Shopping affiliate program to Japan. Local YouTube creators will now be able to tag specific products within their videos, which viewers can then purchase seamlessly through Rakuten Ichiba.
YouTube has rolled out similar features in the U.S., South Korea, and other markets, and its Japanese debut is uniquely tailored to the local ecosystem. Rakuten Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani expressed his enthusiasm for becoming the program’s first partner in Japan.
“I truly believe this is a massive partnership for the Japanese internet industry; one that will leave its mark on history,” he told journalists at the launch event. “I am personally very excited, and as a company, we intend to swing for the fences and go all in on this project.”
V-commerce and the power of storytelling
Google’s decision to launch in Japan was driven by a significant shift in how local consumers make decisions.
“In the past, building brand awareness through advertising was the starting point for a purchase,” Google Japan President Shinji Okuyama told journalists. “Today, in addition to awareness, gaining conviction through the words of a creator you trust is what leads viewers to take action.”
The company highlighted external data showing that 76% of surveyed viewers in Japan consider YouTube to be the most trusted video platform.
“We are seeing a shift beyond the act of simply ‘searching for what you need.’ We are seeing a new shopping experience driven by inspiration – where viewers want a product because it is recommended by a creator they love and trust.”” explained YouTube Japan Managing Director Naomi Yamakawa.
“When introducing products, creators pursue their personal passions and provide meticulous reviews in their own words – sometimes highlighting drawbacks alongside the benefits. Viewers respond to this sincerity, allowing them to make informed purchasing decisions with conviction.”
Through the partnership, Rakuten is connecting this audience with one of Japan’s largest online marketplaces, listing over 500 million products. But the partnership is about more than just Rakuten’s technical infrastructure; it’s connecting two platforms driven by storytelling.
Rakuten Executive Vice President Ryo Matsumura made a case for the multiplying effect such a fusion could bring.
“Rakuten Ichiba has over 50,000 merchants, and each one has a truly unique story,” he explained. “By multiplying these unique stories with the YouTube creator economy and the power and trust they have with their viewers, we can create a shopping experience entirely different from traditional e-commerce.”
The program leverages Rakuten’s existing frameworks such as Rakuten Affiliate and social commerce app ROOM, which make it easy for creators to monetize their passion while helping merchants reach new fans.
“We expect this to provide our merchants with even more opportunities for business growth, and deliver an even more fun and convenient shopping experience to our customers.”
Mikitani: Shopping is entertainment
But for storytelling to lead to sales, the technology needs to get out of the way. One strategic priority for both companies is eliminating friction: for a user to make a purchase, they need to first see the product, remember its name, open a new tab, and search for it on Rakuten Ichiba. Each step of this process carries a risk that they will lose interest.
“Being able to buy without friction is a vital point,” Mikitani emphasized. “Now, users can see something on YouTube and think, ‘This looks fun, I want it,’ and buy it immediately.”
Mikitani reflected on how the partnership is a modern realization of the philosophy he has held since founding Rakuten in 1997.
“Back then, we had very few products available, and I spent a lot of time thinking about how we could actually get things to sell,” he said. “The concept we came up with was that shopping is entertainment. The idea was that shopping shouldn’t be an inorganic experience where items are simply displayed for purchase. It should be fun; there should be communication.”
Mikitani believes that this creator-led model turns the tables on traditional branding, where only big-budget companies can dominate the market. He highlighted what he calls the grilled mackerel phenomenon on Rakuten Ichiba, where humble regional products often become unlikely hits, outperforming even global brands through organic interest.
“That has been the foundation of Rakuten Ichiba until now, and I believe it is a major point of differentiation between us and other shopping malls or Western e-commerce sites.”
One big challenge for smaller merchants has been expanding their reach beyond the confines of the Rakuten Ecosystem. This is something the new partnership could help address.
“Now, we have YouTube creators and influencers introducing these products. This builds trust, and creates a win-win-win relationship,” Mikitani remarked. “I think that’s what makes this a truly revolutionary partnership. YouTube and Rakuten are a perfect match, and I think this will expand Japanese shopping into an entirely different dimension.”
https://rakuten.today/blog/...-all-in-on-v-commerce-with-youtube.html
6 days ago
In February 2026, Google and Rakuten announced a landmark partnership to bring the YouTube Shopping affiliate program to Japan. Local YouTube creators will now be able to tag specific products within their videos, which viewers can then purchase seamlessly through Rakuten Ichiba.
YouTube has rolled out similar features in the U.S., South Korea, and other markets, and its Japanese debut is uniquely tailored to the local ecosystem. Rakuten Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani expressed his enthusiasm for becoming the program’s first partner in Japan.
“I truly believe this is a massive partnership for the Japanese internet industry; one that will leave its mark on history,” he told journalists at the launch event. “I am personally very excited, and as a company, we intend to swing for the fences and go all in on this project.”
V-commerce and the power of storytelling
Google’s decision to launch in Japan was driven by a significant shift in how local consumers make decisions.
“In the past, building brand awareness through advertising was the starting point for a purchase,” Google Japan President Shinji Okuyama told journalists. “Today, in addition to awareness, gaining conviction through the words of a creator you trust is what leads viewers to take action.”
The company highlighted external data showing that 76% of surveyed viewers in Japan consider YouTube to be the most trusted video platform.
“We are seeing a shift beyond the act of simply ‘searching for what you need.’ We are seeing a new shopping experience driven by inspiration – where viewers want a product because it is recommended by a creator they love and trust.”” explained YouTube Japan Managing Director Naomi Yamakawa.
“When introducing products, creators pursue their personal passions and provide meticulous reviews in their own words – sometimes highlighting drawbacks alongside the benefits. Viewers respond to this sincerity, allowing them to make informed purchasing decisions with conviction.”
Through the partnership, Rakuten is connecting this audience with one of Japan’s largest online marketplaces, listing over 500 million products. But the partnership is about more than just Rakuten’s technical infrastructure; it’s connecting two platforms driven by storytelling.
Rakuten Executive Vice President Ryo Matsumura made a case for the multiplying effect such a fusion could bring.
“Rakuten Ichiba has over 50,000 merchants, and each one has a truly unique story,” he explained. “By multiplying these unique stories with the YouTube creator economy and the power and trust they have with their viewers, we can create a shopping experience entirely different from traditional e-commerce.”
The program leverages Rakuten’s existing frameworks such as Rakuten Affiliate and social commerce app ROOM, which make it easy for creators to monetize their passion while helping merchants reach new fans.
“We expect this to provide our merchants with even more opportunities for business growth, and deliver an even more fun and convenient shopping experience to our customers.”
Mikitani: Shopping is entertainment
But for storytelling to lead to sales, the technology needs to get out of the way. One strategic priority for both companies is eliminating friction: for a user to make a purchase, they need to first see the product, remember its name, open a new tab, and search for it on Rakuten Ichiba. Each step of this process carries a risk that they will lose interest.
“Being able to buy without friction is a vital point,” Mikitani emphasized. “Now, users can see something on YouTube and think, ‘This looks fun, I want it,’ and buy it immediately.”
Mikitani reflected on how the partnership is a modern realization of the philosophy he has held since founding Rakuten in 1997.
“Back then, we had very few products available, and I spent a lot of time thinking about how we could actually get things to sell,” he said. “The concept we came up with was that shopping is entertainment. The idea was that shopping shouldn’t be an inorganic experience where items are simply displayed for purchase. It should be fun; there should be communication.”
Mikitani believes that this creator-led model turns the tables on traditional branding, where only big-budget companies can dominate the market. He highlighted what he calls the grilled mackerel phenomenon on Rakuten Ichiba, where humble regional products often become unlikely hits, outperforming even global brands through organic interest.
“That has been the foundation of Rakuten Ichiba until now, and I believe it is a major point of differentiation between us and other shopping malls or Western e-commerce sites.”
One big challenge for smaller merchants has been expanding their reach beyond the confines of the Rakuten Ecosystem. This is something the new partnership could help address.
“Now, we have YouTube creators and influencers introducing these products. This builds trust, and creates a win-win-win relationship,” Mikitani remarked. “I think that’s what makes this a truly revolutionary partnership. YouTube and Rakuten are a perfect match, and I think this will expand Japanese shopping into an entirely different dimension.”
https://rakuten.today/blog/...-all-in-on-v-commerce-with-youtube.html
06.04.26 12:55
#14163
Libuda
Value Hidden Behind A Telecom Overhang
Rakuten: Value Hidden Behind A Telecom Overhang
Apr 02, 2026, 6:34 AM
Summary
Rakuten Group (RKUNY) leverages a synergistic ecosystem across fintech, internet services, and mobile, driving user stickiness and cross-selling opportunities.
Fintech is the primary profit engine, benefiting from Japan's cashless transition, regulatory support, and rising net interest margins, positioning RKUNY for robust growth.
Mobile segment remains a drag on profitability but shows inflection with subscriber growth, ARPU gains, and improved churn, supporting long-term ecosystem expansion.
Valuation multiples and SOTP analysis suggest RKUNY is underpriced, offering substantial upside despite persistent group-level losses and evolving liability structure.
https://seekingalpha.com/article/...-hidden-behind-a-telecom-overhang
Apr 02, 2026, 6:34 AM
Summary
Rakuten Group (RKUNY) leverages a synergistic ecosystem across fintech, internet services, and mobile, driving user stickiness and cross-selling opportunities.
Fintech is the primary profit engine, benefiting from Japan's cashless transition, regulatory support, and rising net interest margins, positioning RKUNY for robust growth.
Mobile segment remains a drag on profitability but shows inflection with subscriber growth, ARPU gains, and improved churn, supporting long-term ecosystem expansion.
Valuation multiples and SOTP analysis suggest RKUNY is underpriced, offering substantial upside despite persistent group-level losses and evolving liability structure.
https://seekingalpha.com/article/...-hidden-behind-a-telecom-overhang
07.04.26 23:14
#14164
Libuda
Rakuten is the fastest-growing Japanese telco
Japanese conglomerate SoftBank is the latest to adopt SpaceX’s broadband-to-satphone system, Starlink. SoftBank joins NTT Docomo and KDDI in supporting Starlink. These are three very large Japanese carriers and will – between them – supply coverage over mountainous regions, remote islands and during Japan’s ever-present natural disasters.
The trio will compete against one remaining telco which is aligned with AST SpaceMobile which is Rakuten Mobile. Rakuten’s agreement with AST is for exclusivity so the rival telcos could not tap into AST’s system, which will launch later this year. Rakuten, to date, is the fastest-growing Japanese telco.
https://www.advanced-television.com/2026/04/06/...ftbank-smartphones/
The trio will compete against one remaining telco which is aligned with AST SpaceMobile which is Rakuten Mobile. Rakuten’s agreement with AST is for exclusivity so the rival telcos could not tap into AST’s system, which will launch later this year. Rakuten, to date, is the fastest-growing Japanese telco.
https://www.advanced-television.com/2026/04/06/...ftbank-smartphones/
08.04.26 22:07
#14165
Libuda
Rakuten TV in 2025
Rakuten TV in 2025: A Year of Stories, Scale, and Momentum Across Europe
Below is a look at a few of the moments that defined 2025, across every corner of our platform.
December 29, 2025
As Europe’s original connected TV specialists, Rakuten TV continued to strengthen its role in the streaming ecosystem throughout 2025. From expanding our FAST footprint to elevating AVOD quality, growing our TVOD offer, and deepening our presence across devices and operators, this year marked a step-change in how we help audiences discover content, and how we help content owners, advertisers, and telcos unlock more value.
A New Era of FAST Promotion with Billboard Placement
Early this year, Rakuten TV introduced Billboard placement for FAST channels: a premium visual format designed to boost content discovery and drive performance for both brands and content partners.
For instance, our first billboard campaigns with our channel partner VEVO during San Remo fest and NTD TV delivered strong engagement and helped accelerate their European footprint, soon followed by partners like Euronews and CGTN, with more to come. These media investments enable our channel partners to extend the impact of their marketing budgets and boost their channel visibility and performance on our platform, while helping drive revenue growth.
New O&O Channels for Europe’s Viewers
In 2025, we’ve significantly expanded our owned and operated FAST portfolio with new channels tailored to local markets and cultural appetite. Some of the highlights include:
RTV Top Movies launched in Portugal
RTV Sci-Fi expanded to France and Spain
Reality & Romance in Ireland
Thriller in the UK & Spain
Growing the Single-IP Universe
Rakuten TV continued to build value for studios and distributors through curated single-IP channels designed to maximise engagement. Some of the highlights include:
Alerta Cobra, available in Italy and Spain
Gipsy Kings, in Spain
Abschnitt 40, extending our partnership in German-speaking markets
With these launches, Rakuten TV now operates over 120 O&O FAST channels, further reinforcing our leadership in the European FAST space.
New FAST Channels from Content Owners
In addition to the 170 third-party channels launched on Rakuten TV in 2025, this year also saw the launches of exciting channels built by Rakuten TV Enterprise for our content partners, including:
Reframed’s Cesar’s Pack Leader TV in UK, Nordics and Netherlands
Rive Gauche’s Aftershock Real Crime and Aftershock My Strange Addiction in UK, Nordics and Netherlands
ACE’s Shark TV in France
These launches highlight Rakuten TV’s ability to support partners end to end, from channel creation and packaging to distribution and monetisation, helping content owners unlock new value from their catalogues with a FAST strategy tailored to European audiences.
Strengthening Studio Partnerships Across Europe
We welcomed new collaborations with major and boutique studios alike, including Mattel across Europe and expanded partnerships with DeAPlaneta, Planeta Junior in Spain, and Eagle Pictures in Italy.
This growth reflects our commitment to sourcing high-quality content while supporting local studios with meaningful distribution and monetisation.
AVOD: A More Premium Experience Than Ever with 4K
For the first time, Rakuten TV introduced 4K content within the AVOD catalogue, raising the bar for free streaming in Europe and offering advertisers a higher-quality environment to reach audiences.
TVOD: The Biggest Movies, Right When Audiences Want Them
Throughout 2025, our TVOD store continued to bring the year’s biggest theatrical titles directly to European homes, offering a consistent pipeline of premium film releases. These tentpole moments strengthen the value of the overall platform by keeping audiences engaged and returning.
Distribution: Scaling Access Across Europe’s Devices and Operators
More Platforms, More Homes
Rakuten TV expanded availability across key European platforms, launching on TCL and Netgem in 2025, a step forward in making our content available wherever viewers are.
A Major New Partnerships with Virgin TV UK & Free Ciné FR
Our app became available on Virgin TV in the United Kingdom, significantly expanding reach across one of Europe’s most competitive households.
This December, we also launched our flagship FAST channels alongside over 100 hours of curated on-demand films on Free Ciné, leading telecom provider in France.
In Poland, we also partnered with Pilot WP to power its TVOD store, bringing Rakuten TV’s premium transactional catalogue to one of the country’s leading digital platforms and extending our reach in Central and Eastern Europe.
For TV operators, Rakuten TV offers a proven content layer that deepens user engagement and enhances service value through a broad mix of AVOD, FAST, and TVOD.
Building a Stronger Streaming Landscape for All
Across AVOD, FAST, TVOD, and distribution, Rakuten TV’s 2025 milestones share one common goal: To help audiences discover great stories and help partners unlock greater opportunity.
For content owners: We deliver scale, curation, and monetisation across one of Europe’s largest CTV footprints.
For advertisers: We offer incremental reach, premium inventory, and high-performing, brand-safe environments.
For TV operators: We provide a diverse content offering that enhances platform stickiness and boosts engagement.
And for viewers, we continue to expand the stories they can enjoy with just one click.
https://www.enterprise.rakuten.tv/insights/2025-recap/
Below is a look at a few of the moments that defined 2025, across every corner of our platform.
December 29, 2025
As Europe’s original connected TV specialists, Rakuten TV continued to strengthen its role in the streaming ecosystem throughout 2025. From expanding our FAST footprint to elevating AVOD quality, growing our TVOD offer, and deepening our presence across devices and operators, this year marked a step-change in how we help audiences discover content, and how we help content owners, advertisers, and telcos unlock more value.
A New Era of FAST Promotion with Billboard Placement
Early this year, Rakuten TV introduced Billboard placement for FAST channels: a premium visual format designed to boost content discovery and drive performance for both brands and content partners.
For instance, our first billboard campaigns with our channel partner VEVO during San Remo fest and NTD TV delivered strong engagement and helped accelerate their European footprint, soon followed by partners like Euronews and CGTN, with more to come. These media investments enable our channel partners to extend the impact of their marketing budgets and boost their channel visibility and performance on our platform, while helping drive revenue growth.
New O&O Channels for Europe’s Viewers
In 2025, we’ve significantly expanded our owned and operated FAST portfolio with new channels tailored to local markets and cultural appetite. Some of the highlights include:
RTV Top Movies launched in Portugal
RTV Sci-Fi expanded to France and Spain
Reality & Romance in Ireland
Thriller in the UK & Spain
Growing the Single-IP Universe
Rakuten TV continued to build value for studios and distributors through curated single-IP channels designed to maximise engagement. Some of the highlights include:
Alerta Cobra, available in Italy and Spain
Gipsy Kings, in Spain
Abschnitt 40, extending our partnership in German-speaking markets
With these launches, Rakuten TV now operates over 120 O&O FAST channels, further reinforcing our leadership in the European FAST space.
New FAST Channels from Content Owners
In addition to the 170 third-party channels launched on Rakuten TV in 2025, this year also saw the launches of exciting channels built by Rakuten TV Enterprise for our content partners, including:
Reframed’s Cesar’s Pack Leader TV in UK, Nordics and Netherlands
Rive Gauche’s Aftershock Real Crime and Aftershock My Strange Addiction in UK, Nordics and Netherlands
ACE’s Shark TV in France
These launches highlight Rakuten TV’s ability to support partners end to end, from channel creation and packaging to distribution and monetisation, helping content owners unlock new value from their catalogues with a FAST strategy tailored to European audiences.
Strengthening Studio Partnerships Across Europe
We welcomed new collaborations with major and boutique studios alike, including Mattel across Europe and expanded partnerships with DeAPlaneta, Planeta Junior in Spain, and Eagle Pictures in Italy.
This growth reflects our commitment to sourcing high-quality content while supporting local studios with meaningful distribution and monetisation.
AVOD: A More Premium Experience Than Ever with 4K
For the first time, Rakuten TV introduced 4K content within the AVOD catalogue, raising the bar for free streaming in Europe and offering advertisers a higher-quality environment to reach audiences.
TVOD: The Biggest Movies, Right When Audiences Want Them
Throughout 2025, our TVOD store continued to bring the year’s biggest theatrical titles directly to European homes, offering a consistent pipeline of premium film releases. These tentpole moments strengthen the value of the overall platform by keeping audiences engaged and returning.
Distribution: Scaling Access Across Europe’s Devices and Operators
More Platforms, More Homes
Rakuten TV expanded availability across key European platforms, launching on TCL and Netgem in 2025, a step forward in making our content available wherever viewers are.
A Major New Partnerships with Virgin TV UK & Free Ciné FR
Our app became available on Virgin TV in the United Kingdom, significantly expanding reach across one of Europe’s most competitive households.
This December, we also launched our flagship FAST channels alongside over 100 hours of curated on-demand films on Free Ciné, leading telecom provider in France.
In Poland, we also partnered with Pilot WP to power its TVOD store, bringing Rakuten TV’s premium transactional catalogue to one of the country’s leading digital platforms and extending our reach in Central and Eastern Europe.
For TV operators, Rakuten TV offers a proven content layer that deepens user engagement and enhances service value through a broad mix of AVOD, FAST, and TVOD.
Building a Stronger Streaming Landscape for All
Across AVOD, FAST, TVOD, and distribution, Rakuten TV’s 2025 milestones share one common goal: To help audiences discover great stories and help partners unlock greater opportunity.
For content owners: We deliver scale, curation, and monetisation across one of Europe’s largest CTV footprints.
For advertisers: We offer incremental reach, premium inventory, and high-performing, brand-safe environments.
For TV operators: We provide a diverse content offering that enhances platform stickiness and boosts engagement.
And for viewers, we continue to expand the stories they can enjoy with just one click.
https://www.enterprise.rakuten.tv/insights/2025-recap/
08.04.26 22:19
#14166
Libuda
Rakuten Adds Shiba Inu to Mobile Wallet
E-commerce Giant Rakuten Adds Shiba Inu to Mobile Wallet
Tue, 7/04/2026 - 15:21
Shiba Inu will be integrated into Rakuten Wallet alongside other top digital currencies.
Japanese e-commerce conglomerate Rakuten Group disclosed that it is adding the Shiba Inu (SHIB) meme coin to its mobile wallet. This move marks a positive regulatory and platform development for Shiba Inu in Japan.
SHIB going live on Rakuten Mobile Wallet
According to updates shared by Shibarium, Rakuten Wallet is expanding its spot trading to include SHIB, starting on April 15, 2026.
Upon debuting, Japanese users of Rakuten Wallet can buy, sell and trade SHIB directly on the platform using Japanese yen. They can also use other supported assets, all within a regulated.
Rakuten is not just a crypto exchange but a giant conglomerate with millions of users across e-commerce, banking, payments, credit cards and digital services.
Thus, adding SHIB to the platform exposes the token to everyday Japanese consumers who already use Rakuten for shopping and finance.
https://u.today/...erce-giant-rakuten-adds-shiba-inu-to-mobile-wallet
Tue, 7/04/2026 - 15:21
Shiba Inu will be integrated into Rakuten Wallet alongside other top digital currencies.
Japanese e-commerce conglomerate Rakuten Group disclosed that it is adding the Shiba Inu (SHIB) meme coin to its mobile wallet. This move marks a positive regulatory and platform development for Shiba Inu in Japan.
SHIB going live on Rakuten Mobile Wallet
According to updates shared by Shibarium, Rakuten Wallet is expanding its spot trading to include SHIB, starting on April 15, 2026.
Upon debuting, Japanese users of Rakuten Wallet can buy, sell and trade SHIB directly on the platform using Japanese yen. They can also use other supported assets, all within a regulated.
Rakuten is not just a crypto exchange but a giant conglomerate with millions of users across e-commerce, banking, payments, credit cards and digital services.
Thus, adding SHIB to the platform exposes the token to everyday Japanese consumers who already use Rakuten for shopping and finance.
https://u.today/...erce-giant-rakuten-adds-shiba-inu-to-mobile-wallet
08.04.26 22:49
#14167
Libuda
Intrinsic value estimate suggesting 83.2% discount
Intrinsic value estimate suggesting an 83.2% discount
With Rakuten Group trading at ¥746.3, an intrinsic value estimate suggesting an 83.2% discount and a 34.8% gap to analyst targets, the key question is whether this represents a genuine opportunity or whether the market is already accounting for future growth.
Most Popular Narrative: 26.4% Undervalued
With Rakuten Group last closing at ¥746.3 against a narrative fair value of ¥1,014.64, the current debate centers on whether the gap reflects upside potential or unresolved concerns about execution and profitability.
Rakuten Mobile is achieving rapid growth in subscribers, expected to drive the growth of the entire Rakuten ecosystem, contributing significantly to future revenue increases through cross selling of Rakuten services to mobile users. AI driven operational efficiencies, targeting a 31% reduction in customer support costs, are anticipated to improve net margins by boosting profitability across Rakuten's operational segments.
https://simplywall.st/stocks/jp/retail/tse-4755/...es-show-mixed-shor
With Rakuten Group trading at ¥746.3, an intrinsic value estimate suggesting an 83.2% discount and a 34.8% gap to analyst targets, the key question is whether this represents a genuine opportunity or whether the market is already accounting for future growth.
Most Popular Narrative: 26.4% Undervalued
With Rakuten Group last closing at ¥746.3 against a narrative fair value of ¥1,014.64, the current debate centers on whether the gap reflects upside potential or unresolved concerns about execution and profitability.
Rakuten Mobile is achieving rapid growth in subscribers, expected to drive the growth of the entire Rakuten ecosystem, contributing significantly to future revenue increases through cross selling of Rakuten services to mobile users. AI driven operational efficiencies, targeting a 31% reduction in customer support costs, are anticipated to improve net margins by boosting profitability across Rakuten's operational segments.
https://simplywall.st/stocks/jp/retail/tse-4755/...es-show-mixed-shor
09.04.26 10:54
#14168
Libuda
New AI concierge is redefining the shopping
Rakuten’s Rakuten’s new AI concierge is redefining the shopping experience
2 days ago
After nearly 30 years of searching keywords, Japan’s biggest online marketplace now has a brand-new way to navigate its vast catalog: Rakuten AI. Announced in December 2025, Rakuten Ichiba launched the new agentic AI concierge in its mobile app, giving shoppers a powerful alternative to the static search bar.
Shoppers can engage the concierge in dialogue using text, voice, or even their phone’s camera. They can discuss budget, purpose, usage scenarios and more, asking follow-up questions to narrow down the selection. The concierge even integrates general web search results to stay up to date on real-world factors.
“Ultimately, we aim to move beyond simple purpose-driven shopping,” explains Rakuten Ichiba’s Yusuke Kobayashi Group Managing Executive Officer and Vice Director of Commerce & Marketing Company. “We want to enhance the discovery shopping experience, creating encounters with new products and services that users might not have even realized they wanted, increasing overall joy and satisfaction.”
No more choice paralysis
“Rakuten Ichiba’s appeal lies in its vast selection of about 500 million products and diverse shopfronts, but this abundance can lead to choice paralysis,” Kobayashi notes. “For users with vague needs – those who haven’t settled on a specific product name or brand – traditional keyword searches sometimes fail to lead them to the ideal item.”
Other items might require a level of technical knowledge: “It can be a time-consuming process to gather info, compare specs, and check reviews. Often, a lack of expertise prevents users from making the best choice.”
Rakuten’s new concierge is intended to act as a professional sales consultant that filters through the noise. By summarizing complex information instantly and engaging in meaningful dialogue, the tool aims to find not just a product, but the right product for any given customer.
“The AI concierge engages in dialogue to deeply understand latent needs and lifestyle preferences that surface-level keywords miss,” says Kobayashi. “Interacting with the AI concierge enables it to truly understand individual needs, allowing for highly personalized recommendations from our vast catalog. This eliminates the confusion caused by information overload, enabling users to make confident, satisfying decisions as if they were receiving advice from a professional expert.”
This fundamental transformation of Rakuten Ichiba’s navigation is already yielding significant results.
“In practice, this has reduced the burden of product comparison and led to an approximate 43% reduction in time to purchase. By preventing drop-offs during long searches and guiding users toward products they feel confident in, we have seen an approximate 41% increase in average order value.”*
Leveraging homegrown expertise
“A long-standing trust in the Rakuten platform, our unique ecosystem centered on Rakuten Points, and our massive volume of consumer behavior data,” Kobayashi highlights. “These are clear competitive advantages that allow us to provide a level of convenience and sustainable growth that other companies cannot easily replicate.”
Rakuten has been driving innovation in the AI space, launching the Rakuten AI agentic platform in July 2025 at the Rakuten AI Optimism event. Rakuten Ichiba’s new concierge is milestone in the transformation to an Agentic Ecosystem.
“The AI concierge leverages Rakuten AI, our advanced agentic AI tool designed to improve customer experiences within the Rakuten Ecosystem. It excels in Japanese language processing and generation, and features multimodal capabilities.”
Kobayashi recognizes that Rakuten isn’t the only major player in this relatively new field of chat-based commerce.
“We see this as a positive opportunity for technical innovation and for increasing the e-commerce penetration rate in Japan,” he says. “But we also recognize that there are currently no definitive success stories in the industry. Through our new concierge, we want to establish a new industry standard for AI-driven shopping.”
Driving the future of digital hospitality
“We view AI not just as a tool, but as a vital driver that deeply connects Rakuten’s unique, personality-rich shops with our users.”
The shift away from traditional search could also herald a change for Rakuten Ichiba’s 50,000+ merchants, as more customers embrace discovery shopping over purpose-driven shopping. On the back-end, merchants already have access to AI-driven shop management tools, which Kobayashi urges them to take full advantage of.
“Because the AI Concierge fundamentally changes the buying experience, it is more important than ever for merchants to enhance both the quality and quantity of their product information.”
Rakuten’s ultimate vision for AI-driven shopping is to move beyond the limitations of a typical software interface, and toward a service that captures the expertise and hospitality of a physical store representative who understands your history, preferences, and needs.
“I believe the user experience will evolve toward even higher levels of personalization and deeper understanding through human-like dialogue,” Kobayashi predicts. “Within the year, we aim to provide a shopping experience where the AI replicates the expertise and hospitality of our merchants, allowing customers to feel as if they are talking directly to a shop representative.”
“We want to use AI to continuously evolve the Rakuten Ichiba platform, accelerating the sustainable growth of our merchants while drastically improving the customer experience.”
https://rakuten.today/blog/...redefining-the-shopping-experience.html
2 days ago
After nearly 30 years of searching keywords, Japan’s biggest online marketplace now has a brand-new way to navigate its vast catalog: Rakuten AI. Announced in December 2025, Rakuten Ichiba launched the new agentic AI concierge in its mobile app, giving shoppers a powerful alternative to the static search bar.
Shoppers can engage the concierge in dialogue using text, voice, or even their phone’s camera. They can discuss budget, purpose, usage scenarios and more, asking follow-up questions to narrow down the selection. The concierge even integrates general web search results to stay up to date on real-world factors.
“Ultimately, we aim to move beyond simple purpose-driven shopping,” explains Rakuten Ichiba’s Yusuke Kobayashi Group Managing Executive Officer and Vice Director of Commerce & Marketing Company. “We want to enhance the discovery shopping experience, creating encounters with new products and services that users might not have even realized they wanted, increasing overall joy and satisfaction.”
No more choice paralysis
“Rakuten Ichiba’s appeal lies in its vast selection of about 500 million products and diverse shopfronts, but this abundance can lead to choice paralysis,” Kobayashi notes. “For users with vague needs – those who haven’t settled on a specific product name or brand – traditional keyword searches sometimes fail to lead them to the ideal item.”
Other items might require a level of technical knowledge: “It can be a time-consuming process to gather info, compare specs, and check reviews. Often, a lack of expertise prevents users from making the best choice.”
Rakuten’s new concierge is intended to act as a professional sales consultant that filters through the noise. By summarizing complex information instantly and engaging in meaningful dialogue, the tool aims to find not just a product, but the right product for any given customer.
“The AI concierge engages in dialogue to deeply understand latent needs and lifestyle preferences that surface-level keywords miss,” says Kobayashi. “Interacting with the AI concierge enables it to truly understand individual needs, allowing for highly personalized recommendations from our vast catalog. This eliminates the confusion caused by information overload, enabling users to make confident, satisfying decisions as if they were receiving advice from a professional expert.”
This fundamental transformation of Rakuten Ichiba’s navigation is already yielding significant results.
“In practice, this has reduced the burden of product comparison and led to an approximate 43% reduction in time to purchase. By preventing drop-offs during long searches and guiding users toward products they feel confident in, we have seen an approximate 41% increase in average order value.”*
Leveraging homegrown expertise
“A long-standing trust in the Rakuten platform, our unique ecosystem centered on Rakuten Points, and our massive volume of consumer behavior data,” Kobayashi highlights. “These are clear competitive advantages that allow us to provide a level of convenience and sustainable growth that other companies cannot easily replicate.”
Rakuten has been driving innovation in the AI space, launching the Rakuten AI agentic platform in July 2025 at the Rakuten AI Optimism event. Rakuten Ichiba’s new concierge is milestone in the transformation to an Agentic Ecosystem.
“The AI concierge leverages Rakuten AI, our advanced agentic AI tool designed to improve customer experiences within the Rakuten Ecosystem. It excels in Japanese language processing and generation, and features multimodal capabilities.”
Kobayashi recognizes that Rakuten isn’t the only major player in this relatively new field of chat-based commerce.
“We see this as a positive opportunity for technical innovation and for increasing the e-commerce penetration rate in Japan,” he says. “But we also recognize that there are currently no definitive success stories in the industry. Through our new concierge, we want to establish a new industry standard for AI-driven shopping.”
Driving the future of digital hospitality
“We view AI not just as a tool, but as a vital driver that deeply connects Rakuten’s unique, personality-rich shops with our users.”
The shift away from traditional search could also herald a change for Rakuten Ichiba’s 50,000+ merchants, as more customers embrace discovery shopping over purpose-driven shopping. On the back-end, merchants already have access to AI-driven shop management tools, which Kobayashi urges them to take full advantage of.
“Because the AI Concierge fundamentally changes the buying experience, it is more important than ever for merchants to enhance both the quality and quantity of their product information.”
Rakuten’s ultimate vision for AI-driven shopping is to move beyond the limitations of a typical software interface, and toward a service that captures the expertise and hospitality of a physical store representative who understands your history, preferences, and needs.
“I believe the user experience will evolve toward even higher levels of personalization and deeper understanding through human-like dialogue,” Kobayashi predicts. “Within the year, we aim to provide a shopping experience where the AI replicates the expertise and hospitality of our merchants, allowing customers to feel as if they are talking directly to a shop representative.”
“We want to use AI to continuously evolve the Rakuten Ichiba platform, accelerating the sustainable growth of our merchants while drastically improving the customer experience.”
https://rakuten.today/blog/...redefining-the-shopping-experience.html
10.04.26 18:24
#14169
Libuda
Full-scale introduction of AI in Card Chat Support
026/04/07
Full-scale introduction of AI in "Rakuten Card Chat Support" - AI quickly selects the best answer to improve the quality and efficiency of customer service
Rakuten Card Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "the Company") will introduce an AI search system in earnest to provide customers with faster and more accurate answers to the "Rakuten Card Chat Support" from today, April 7 (Tuesday).
In recent years, the spread of smartphones and social media has spread text communication to a wide range of age groups. In response to changes in customer inquiry needs, in addition to responding by phone, we have introduced "Rakuten Card Chat Support" since 2017. Many customers use chat because they can make inquiries according to their situation and receive personalized answers, and the usage rate of chat exceeds 60% of the inquiries received from operators.
Until now, operators have searched for the most suitable answers from about 2,000 types of answer templates based on the accumulated wealth of inquiry data, but by selecting and suggesting them to the operator, the response speed will be improved, and the response time will ultimately be reduced by about 60 seconds. Operators can also provide answers based on AI-suggested templates, eliminating the risk of hallucination and ensuring that customers receive accurate answers.
We have continued to grow since the issuance of the Rakuten Card in July 2005, and the number of cards issued has exceeded 33.41 million as of the end of December 2025. In response to the increase in the number of inquiries from customers due to the increase in the number of issuances, the number of telephone inquiries decreased by about 60% from the peak by using chat and AI.
In the future, we will aim to further improve quality and efficiency, and will work to improve customer convenience by adding templates based on accumulated inquiry data and utilizing generative AI.
https://www.rakuten-card.co.jp/corporate/press_release/20260407/
026/04/07
Full-scale introduction of AI in "Rakuten Card Chat Support" - AI quickly selects the best answer to improve the quality and efficiency of customer service
Rakuten Card Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "the Company") will introduce an AI search system in earnest to provide customers with faster and more accurate answers to the "Rakuten Card Chat Support" from today, April 7 (Tuesday).
In recent years, the spread of smartphones and social media has spread text communication to a wide range of age groups. In response to changes in customer inquiry needs, in addition to responding by phone, we have introduced "Rakuten Card Chat Support" since 2017. Many customers use chat because they can make inquiries according to their situation and receive personalized answers, and the usage rate of chat exceeds 60% of the inquiries received from operators.
Until now, operators have searched for the most suitable answers from about 2,000 types of answer templates based on the accumulated wealth of inquiry data, but by selecting and suggesting them to the operator, the response speed will be improved, and the response time will ultimately be reduced by about 60 seconds. Operators can also provide answers based on AI-suggested templates, eliminating the risk of hallucination and ensuring that customers receive accurate answers.
We have continued to grow since the issuance of the Rakuten Card in July 2005, and the number of cards issued has exceeded 33.41 million as of the end of December 2025. In response to the increase in the number of inquiries from customers due to the increase in the number of issuances, the number of telephone inquiries decreased by about 60% from the peak by using chat and AI.
In the future, we will aim to further improve quality and efficiency, and will work to improve customer convenience by adding templates based on accumulated inquiry data and utilizing generative AI.
https://www.rakuten-card.co.jp/corporate/press_release/20260407/
10.04.26 22:46
#14170
Libuda
Rakuten Mobile Strongest Thanksgiving Festival
The contents of the "Rakuten Mobile Strongest Thanksgiving Festival" that opened on April 1st were released in advance.
https://rakumoba.jp/rakuten-mobile-saikyo-kanshasai-2026-april/
The contents of the "Rakuten Mobile Strongest Thanksgiving Festival" that opened on April 1st were released in advance.
https://rakumoba.jp/rakuten-mobile-saikyo-kanshasai-2026-april/
12.04.26 12:12
#14171
Libuda
How FAST/AVOD Is Redefining Reach (Part 3)
How FAST/AVOD Is Redefining Reach (Part 3)
December 12, 2025
The Subscription Ceiling Has Arrived
After years of subscription growth, the streaming market has reached a turning point. Viewers are hitting their limit on how many services they’re willing – or able – to pay for.
The result? A growing appetite for free, ad-supported alternatives that offer quality content without the monthly cost.
FAST/AVOD: The Bridge Between Premium and Free
FAST (Free Ad-Supported TV) and AVOD (Advertising-Based Video on Demand) bridge the gap between the traditional paywall of SVOD and the broad accessibility of broadcast TV.
These platforms attract audiences who want premium, on-demand content, but without the subscription fatigue that now defines much of the SVOD landscape.
And crucially for advertisers, 25% of FAST/AVOD viewers do not watch SVOD services at all.
That means one in four viewers in this ecosystem represents pure incremental reach – an audience segment brands can’t access through subscription platforms alone.
What It Means for Advertisers
SVOD may still dominate headlines, but it’s no longer the only destination for premium viewing.
FAST/AVOD gives brands an entry point into audiences who value free, curated, and easily discoverable content, and who are open to advertising as part of that experience.
For agencies and advertisers, the takeaway is clear:
FAST/AVOD complements, not competes with, paid streaming.
It expands reach into audiences unreachable behind paywalls.
And it does so within a high-quality, brand-safe environment.
As consumer behaviour shifts toward accessibility and flexibility, FAST/AVOD stands out as the most scalable path to maintain both reach and relevance in the streaming era.
As original experts in CTV and streaming in Europe, Rakuten TV has created Rakuten TV Enterprise, a suite of products and services designed to simplify CTV and streaming for agencies and advertisers, content owners, and television operators.
https://www.enterprise.rakuten.tv/insights/...efining-subscription-3/
December 12, 2025
The Subscription Ceiling Has Arrived
After years of subscription growth, the streaming market has reached a turning point. Viewers are hitting their limit on how many services they’re willing – or able – to pay for.
The result? A growing appetite for free, ad-supported alternatives that offer quality content without the monthly cost.
FAST/AVOD: The Bridge Between Premium and Free
FAST (Free Ad-Supported TV) and AVOD (Advertising-Based Video on Demand) bridge the gap between the traditional paywall of SVOD and the broad accessibility of broadcast TV.
These platforms attract audiences who want premium, on-demand content, but without the subscription fatigue that now defines much of the SVOD landscape.
And crucially for advertisers, 25% of FAST/AVOD viewers do not watch SVOD services at all.
That means one in four viewers in this ecosystem represents pure incremental reach – an audience segment brands can’t access through subscription platforms alone.
What It Means for Advertisers
SVOD may still dominate headlines, but it’s no longer the only destination for premium viewing.
FAST/AVOD gives brands an entry point into audiences who value free, curated, and easily discoverable content, and who are open to advertising as part of that experience.
For agencies and advertisers, the takeaway is clear:
FAST/AVOD complements, not competes with, paid streaming.
It expands reach into audiences unreachable behind paywalls.
And it does so within a high-quality, brand-safe environment.
As consumer behaviour shifts toward accessibility and flexibility, FAST/AVOD stands out as the most scalable path to maintain both reach and relevance in the streaming era.
As original experts in CTV and streaming in Europe, Rakuten TV has created Rakuten TV Enterprise, a suite of products and services designed to simplify CTV and streaming for agencies and advertisers, content owners, and television operators.
https://www.enterprise.rakuten.tv/insights/...efining-subscription-3/
12.04.26 17:40
#14172
Libuda
NTN Revolution
NTN Revolution – Rakuten Symphony’s Groundbreaking Telecom Transformation
April 1, 2026
Traditionally, telecommunications kept base stations static while users were mobile. However, NTNs invert this relationship. Users remain relatively static, while antennas aboard satellites move swiftly across the sky.
Anshul Bhatt, Chief Product Officer of the OSS business unit at Rakuten Symphony, describes this shift as adding a fourth dimension to the existing geographic coordinates: time. As satellites travel at high speeds, coverage and capacity change rapidly, creating transient service areas. Consequently, coverage and quality in NTNs become dynamic and dependent on time.
Recognizing these complexities, Rakuten Symphony has designed the industry’s first NTN-specific OSS. This system utilizes real-time intelligence and automated provisioning to maintain service awareness. With satellite-specific dashboards linked to global databases, this OSS offers a comprehensive view correlating satellite paths with network services.
Currently, Rakuten Mobile uses the system, while collaborations with various operators and satellite providers in different orbits are underway. Integrating NTNs symbolizes not just an enhancement to radio access networks, but a reimagined partnership as cellular and satellite networks converge, promising seamless global connectivity.
https://voip.review/2026/04/01/...undbreaking-telecom-transformation/
April 1, 2026
Traditionally, telecommunications kept base stations static while users were mobile. However, NTNs invert this relationship. Users remain relatively static, while antennas aboard satellites move swiftly across the sky.
Anshul Bhatt, Chief Product Officer of the OSS business unit at Rakuten Symphony, describes this shift as adding a fourth dimension to the existing geographic coordinates: time. As satellites travel at high speeds, coverage and capacity change rapidly, creating transient service areas. Consequently, coverage and quality in NTNs become dynamic and dependent on time.
Recognizing these complexities, Rakuten Symphony has designed the industry’s first NTN-specific OSS. This system utilizes real-time intelligence and automated provisioning to maintain service awareness. With satellite-specific dashboards linked to global databases, this OSS offers a comprehensive view correlating satellite paths with network services.
Currently, Rakuten Mobile uses the system, while collaborations with various operators and satellite providers in different orbits are underway. Integrating NTNs symbolizes not just an enhancement to radio access networks, but a reimagined partnership as cellular and satellite networks converge, promising seamless global connectivity.
https://voip.review/2026/04/01/...undbreaking-telecom-transformation/
12.04.26 19:16
#14173
Libuda
In Japan, it indicates an opportunity
Why Japan’s $26.53 billion fintech market highlights regional diversification
2026/04/11
For feedback or concerns regarding this content, please contact us at crypto.news@mexc.com
Japan’s fintech market is projected to reach $26.53 billion in 2026, according to Fortune Business Insights. That figure makes Japan the third-largest fintech market in Asia Pacific, behind China at $30.86 billion and roughly level with India at $26.58 billion. For a country that still runs the majority of consumer transactions in cash, a $26.53 billion fintech sector is a more interesting number than it first appears.
The cash paradox
Japan’s cashless payment ratio reached 42.8% in 2024, up 3.5 percentage points year on year, according to Statista’s fintech in Japan data. That means over half of transactions still happen in cash. In most developed economies, that figure would indicate a failing fintech sector. In Japan, it indicates an opportunity.
https://www.mexc.co/en-IN/news/1020915
Why Japan’s $26.53 billion fintech market highlights regional diversification
2026/04/11
For feedback or concerns regarding this content, please contact us at crypto.news@mexc.com
Japan’s fintech market is projected to reach $26.53 billion in 2026, according to Fortune Business Insights. That figure makes Japan the third-largest fintech market in Asia Pacific, behind China at $30.86 billion and roughly level with India at $26.58 billion. For a country that still runs the majority of consumer transactions in cash, a $26.53 billion fintech sector is a more interesting number than it first appears.
The cash paradox
Japan’s cashless payment ratio reached 42.8% in 2024, up 3.5 percentage points year on year, according to Statista’s fintech in Japan data. That means over half of transactions still happen in cash. In most developed economies, that figure would indicate a failing fintech sector. In Japan, it indicates an opportunity.
https://www.mexc.co/en-IN/news/1020915
12.04.26 23:06
#14174
Libuda
Rakuten Bank erreicht Meilensteine
Die Rakuten Bank hat im April 2026 wichtige Meilensteine erreicht, darunter die Einführung eines neuen Zinssatzes von bis zu 0,64 % p.a. (vor Steuern) für Neukunden in Verbindung mit der Rakuten Saikyo U-NEXT-Kampagne. Zudem wurden die Pläne zur Restrukturierung des Fintech-Geschäfts der Muttergesellschaft wieder aufgenommen, um die Einlagen und die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit zu stärken.
Wichtige Entwicklungen im April 2026:
Höhere Einlagenzinsen: Ab April 2026 gilt ein neuer Bonus-Zinssatz. Kunden können durch die Verknüpfung von Rakuten Bank und Rakuten Mobile einen Zinssatz von bis zu 0,64 % p.a. auf Spareinlagen erhalten.
Fintech-Restrukturierung: Rakuten Group hat die Gespräche zur Zusammenlegung der Fintech-Einheiten, einschließlich Rakuten Card und Rakuten Securities, wieder aufgenommen, um die Position in einem hart umkämpften Marktumfeld zu festigen.
Aktienentwicklung: Die Aktie der Rakuten Bank verzeichnete Anfang April 2026 einen deutlichen Anstieg um über 8 %.
Kundenzahl: Die Bank hat die Marke von 18 Millionen Kundenkonten überschritten.
Die Bank hält weiterhin an ihrer Strategie fest, ihre Marktposition als führende digitale Bank in Japan durch technologische Innovationen (wie Rakuten AI 3.0) auszubauen.
https://www.google.com/...NKgCALACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Wichtige Entwicklungen im April 2026:
Höhere Einlagenzinsen: Ab April 2026 gilt ein neuer Bonus-Zinssatz. Kunden können durch die Verknüpfung von Rakuten Bank und Rakuten Mobile einen Zinssatz von bis zu 0,64 % p.a. auf Spareinlagen erhalten.
Fintech-Restrukturierung: Rakuten Group hat die Gespräche zur Zusammenlegung der Fintech-Einheiten, einschließlich Rakuten Card und Rakuten Securities, wieder aufgenommen, um die Position in einem hart umkämpften Marktumfeld zu festigen.
Aktienentwicklung: Die Aktie der Rakuten Bank verzeichnete Anfang April 2026 einen deutlichen Anstieg um über 8 %.
Kundenzahl: Die Bank hat die Marke von 18 Millionen Kundenkonten überschritten.
Die Bank hält weiterhin an ihrer Strategie fest, ihre Marktposition als führende digitale Bank in Japan durch technologische Innovationen (wie Rakuten AI 3.0) auszubauen.
https://www.google.com/...NKgCALACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
15.04.26 09:54
#14175
Libuda
Rakuten Symphony Partners with Weezie
Rakuten Symphony Partners with Weezie to Accelerate Global Fiber Network Deployment
Accelerates fiber network design and plan automation at scale: Automation-first capabilities reduce time-to-market and operational complexity.
End-to-end operational efficiency: Rakuten Symphony’s automation and orchestration platform enables centralized visibility, intelligent automation and simplified management of large and complex fiber networks.
Future-ready digital infrastructure: Reinforces Rakuten Symphony’s ecosystem strategy, delivering best-in-class technology to support next-generation broadband and digital services worldwide.
TOKYO, April 13, 2026 – Rakuten Symphony, Inc. today announced a strategic partnership with Weezie, a fiber network management software company specializing in fiber network design and management for large-scale fiber deployments. Through this partnership, Rakuten Symphony will integrate Weezie’s fiber network design and plan capabilities into its fiber network offering, enabling operators and enterprises to plan, design, deploy, operate and scale fiber networks faster and more efficiently.
“As global demand for high-speed broadband continues to grow, fiber network operators face increasing pressure to roll out infrastructure rapidly while controlling costs and maintaining operational excellence,” said Vivek Murthy, President of OSS at Rakuten Symphony. “This strategic partnership solves these challenges by bringing together our proven network expertise, automation and orchestration platform, global market reach and ecosystem-driven approach with Weezie’s purpose-built design and plan product designed specifically for fiber network operations.”
By embedding Weezie into its fiber network offering, Rakuten Symphony will provide customers with a more complete, scalable and operationally efficient solution, eliminating the need to develop complex automation capabilities internally and enabling faster network expansion from day one.
“Fiber networks are critical to digital transformation, and this strategic partnership will enable operators and enterprises to deploy and operate fiber infrastructure faster, more efficiently and with greater confidence” said João Guedes, CEO and Founder of Weezie. “With Rakuten Symphony’s global scale, proven orchestration and automation platform, operational expertise and powerful ecosystem approach, we are creating a solution that allows fiber network operators to operate smarter and scale their networks with automation at the core.”
Weezie’s fiber network design and plan product is designed to plan for large, complex fiber networks that reduce manual processes and operational risk. Combined with Rakuten Symphony’s network solutions portfolio, the partnership supports a wide range of use cases, including telecommunications operators, ISPs, enterprise networks and wholesale fiber providers.
About Weezie
Weezie is a Portuguese software company, founded in 2018 and headquartered in Porto, specializing in fiber network management solutions. Focused on automation and digitalization, its platform integrates planning, execution, monitoring, and management teams into a single digital ecosystem, ensuring the best experience for end customers. This approach not only reduces work time compared to traditional methods but also minimizes discrepancies between project design and actual implementation. Weezie aims to be a trusted partner, providing knowledge and expertise to help customers grow their businesses.
https://symphony.rakuten.com/newsroom/...bal-fiber-network-deployment
Accelerates fiber network design and plan automation at scale: Automation-first capabilities reduce time-to-market and operational complexity.
End-to-end operational efficiency: Rakuten Symphony’s automation and orchestration platform enables centralized visibility, intelligent automation and simplified management of large and complex fiber networks.
Future-ready digital infrastructure: Reinforces Rakuten Symphony’s ecosystem strategy, delivering best-in-class technology to support next-generation broadband and digital services worldwide.
TOKYO, April 13, 2026 – Rakuten Symphony, Inc. today announced a strategic partnership with Weezie, a fiber network management software company specializing in fiber network design and management for large-scale fiber deployments. Through this partnership, Rakuten Symphony will integrate Weezie’s fiber network design and plan capabilities into its fiber network offering, enabling operators and enterprises to plan, design, deploy, operate and scale fiber networks faster and more efficiently.
“As global demand for high-speed broadband continues to grow, fiber network operators face increasing pressure to roll out infrastructure rapidly while controlling costs and maintaining operational excellence,” said Vivek Murthy, President of OSS at Rakuten Symphony. “This strategic partnership solves these challenges by bringing together our proven network expertise, automation and orchestration platform, global market reach and ecosystem-driven approach with Weezie’s purpose-built design and plan product designed specifically for fiber network operations.”
By embedding Weezie into its fiber network offering, Rakuten Symphony will provide customers with a more complete, scalable and operationally efficient solution, eliminating the need to develop complex automation capabilities internally and enabling faster network expansion from day one.
“Fiber networks are critical to digital transformation, and this strategic partnership will enable operators and enterprises to deploy and operate fiber infrastructure faster, more efficiently and with greater confidence” said João Guedes, CEO and Founder of Weezie. “With Rakuten Symphony’s global scale, proven orchestration and automation platform, operational expertise and powerful ecosystem approach, we are creating a solution that allows fiber network operators to operate smarter and scale their networks with automation at the core.”
Weezie’s fiber network design and plan product is designed to plan for large, complex fiber networks that reduce manual processes and operational risk. Combined with Rakuten Symphony’s network solutions portfolio, the partnership supports a wide range of use cases, including telecommunications operators, ISPs, enterprise networks and wholesale fiber providers.
About Weezie
Weezie is a Portuguese software company, founded in 2018 and headquartered in Porto, specializing in fiber network management solutions. Focused on automation and digitalization, its platform integrates planning, execution, monitoring, and management teams into a single digital ecosystem, ensuring the best experience for end customers. This approach not only reduces work time compared to traditional methods but also minimizes discrepancies between project design and actual implementation. Weezie aims to be a trusted partner, providing knowledge and expertise to help customers grow their businesses.
https://symphony.rakuten.com/newsroom/...bal-fiber-network-deployment
15.04.26 13:49
#14176
Libuda
Ripple on Rakuten Pay
Rakuten to allow XRP to be used as payment method by its 44 million customers
Rakuten Pay users will also be able to spot trade XRP via the Rakuten Pay app and exchange the Japanese e-commerce giant’s points to purchase Ripple’s token
Apr 14, 2026
Rakuten is set to allow its 44 million users to spot trade XRP and us it as a payment method via its Rakuten Pay app.
What to know:
Rakuten is adding XRP to its Rakuten Pay app, letting 44 million users spend Ripple’s cryptocurrency at more than 5 million merchant locations across Japan.
Starting April 15, users will be able to buy XRP with Rakuten Points, spot trade it in the app and hold it in their Rakuten Wallet, integrating the token into one of Japan’s largest loyalty systems.
The move follows Rakuten’s earlier support for bitcoin, ether and bitcoin cash and is being hailed by a Ripple executive as a major milestone for broader digital asset adoption.
Japan’s e-commerce giant Rakuten is adding XRP to its Rakuten Pay app, allowing its 44 million users to use Ripple’s cryptocurrency as a payment method with more than 5 million merchant locations across the country.
In an announcement via X on Tuesday, Tatsuya Kohrogi, Ripple’s senior ecosystem growth manager, said Rakuten is also enabling its users to spot trade XRP via the app. He said they will also be able to purchase XRP with Rakuten points and hold it in their Rakuten Wallet.
https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/04/14/...-44-million-customers
Rakuten Pay users will also be able to spot trade XRP via the Rakuten Pay app and exchange the Japanese e-commerce giant’s points to purchase Ripple’s token
Apr 14, 2026
Rakuten is set to allow its 44 million users to spot trade XRP and us it as a payment method via its Rakuten Pay app.
What to know:
Rakuten is adding XRP to its Rakuten Pay app, letting 44 million users spend Ripple’s cryptocurrency at more than 5 million merchant locations across Japan.
Starting April 15, users will be able to buy XRP with Rakuten Points, spot trade it in the app and hold it in their Rakuten Wallet, integrating the token into one of Japan’s largest loyalty systems.
The move follows Rakuten’s earlier support for bitcoin, ether and bitcoin cash and is being hailed by a Ripple executive as a major milestone for broader digital asset adoption.
Japan’s e-commerce giant Rakuten is adding XRP to its Rakuten Pay app, allowing its 44 million users to use Ripple’s cryptocurrency as a payment method with more than 5 million merchant locations across the country.
In an announcement via X on Tuesday, Tatsuya Kohrogi, Ripple’s senior ecosystem growth manager, said Rakuten is also enabling its users to spot trade XRP via the app. He said they will also be able to purchase XRP with Rakuten points and hold it in their Rakuten Wallet.
https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/04/14/...-44-million-customers
15.04.26 23:18
#14177
Libuda
Viber, Happydemics partner
Viber, Happydemics partner to redefine ad impact metrics
April 14, 2026
Rakuten Viber is teaming up with ad-tech firm Happydemics to give brands a clearer picture of how advertising actually influences people, not just how often ads are seen.
Why it matters
Marketers are facing mounting pressure to prove returns on every campaign. Traditional metrics like impressions and reach show scale, but they often fail to capture whether ads truly resonate. That gap is becoming harder to ignore as companies tighten budgets and demand measurable outcomes.
What’s new
The partnership introduces a unified, real-time dashboard that measures “brand lift” on Viber. This includes key indicators such as ad recall and purchase intent, helping advertisers understand which creative elements drive results across the marketing funnel.
How it works
Happydemics’ methodology relies on voluntary, real-time responses instead of cookies or tracking tools. The result is a privacy-first measurement model that works across formats and channels while remaining compliant with evolving data regulations.
https://insiderph.com/...demics-partner-to-redefine-ad-impact-metrics
April 14, 2026
Rakuten Viber is teaming up with ad-tech firm Happydemics to give brands a clearer picture of how advertising actually influences people, not just how often ads are seen.
Why it matters
Marketers are facing mounting pressure to prove returns on every campaign. Traditional metrics like impressions and reach show scale, but they often fail to capture whether ads truly resonate. That gap is becoming harder to ignore as companies tighten budgets and demand measurable outcomes.
What’s new
The partnership introduces a unified, real-time dashboard that measures “brand lift” on Viber. This includes key indicators such as ad recall and purchase intent, helping advertisers understand which creative elements drive results across the marketing funnel.
How it works
Happydemics’ methodology relies on voluntary, real-time responses instead of cookies or tracking tools. The result is a privacy-first measurement model that works across formats and channels while remaining compliant with evolving data regulations.
https://insiderph.com/...demics-partner-to-redefine-ad-impact-metrics
16.04.26 07:28
#14178
Libuda
Wind River and Rakuten Cloud
Global Enterprise Expansion with Local Relevance | Featuring Wind River and Rakuten Cloud
April 13, 2026
Rakuten Symphony announced the global integration of Rakuten Cloud-Native Storage with Wind River Cloud Platform, delivering a pre-tested, enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure solution for customers seeking secure, scalable and highly available environments. Wind River and Rakuten Symphony executives discuss the important customer needs being addressed and benefits provided with this new partnership: secure environment, end to end solution, reduced cost of ownership and a lot more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ7W_j4jXmg
April 13, 2026
Rakuten Symphony announced the global integration of Rakuten Cloud-Native Storage with Wind River Cloud Platform, delivering a pre-tested, enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure solution for customers seeking secure, scalable and highly available environments. Wind River and Rakuten Symphony executives discuss the important customer needs being addressed and benefits provided with this new partnership: secure environment, end to end solution, reduced cost of ownership and a lot more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ7W_j4jXmg
16.04.26 11:48
#14179
Libuda
Einführung von XRP als Zahlungsmethode
Japans E-Commerce-Gigant Rakuten integriert den Token XRP in seine Zahlungs- und Loyalty-Infrastruktur. Damit erhalten rund 44 Millionen Nutzer der Rakuten-Pay-App Zugang zu einer der größten Krypto-Implementierungen im globalen Einzelhandel.
Mit der Einführung von XRP als Zahlungsmethode können Kunden künftig bei mehr als fünf Millionen Händlern landesweit direkt mit der Kryptowährung bezahlen. Die Integration erfolgt über die mobile Wallet "Rakuten Pay" sowie die zugehörige Rakuten Wallet.
Die Neuerung geht jedoch über reine Zahlungsfunktionen hinaus. Nutzer können XRP künftig auch direkt innerhalb der App handeln, speichern und in das hauseigene Bezahlsystem "Rakuten Cash" übertragen. Damit verschmilzt Rakuten erstmals Trading, Wallet und Payment vollständig in einer Plattform.
Besonders bemerkenswert ist auch die Verknüpfung mit dem Rakuten-Punktesystem – eines der größten Bonusprogramme weltweit. Über drei Billionen Punkte, umgerechnet rund 23 Milliarden US-Dollar, befinden sich derzeit im Umlauf. Diese können nun direkt in XRP umgewandelt werden.
https://www.wallstreet-online.de/nachricht/...illionen-rakuten-nutzer
Mit der Einführung von XRP als Zahlungsmethode können Kunden künftig bei mehr als fünf Millionen Händlern landesweit direkt mit der Kryptowährung bezahlen. Die Integration erfolgt über die mobile Wallet "Rakuten Pay" sowie die zugehörige Rakuten Wallet.
Die Neuerung geht jedoch über reine Zahlungsfunktionen hinaus. Nutzer können XRP künftig auch direkt innerhalb der App handeln, speichern und in das hauseigene Bezahlsystem "Rakuten Cash" übertragen. Damit verschmilzt Rakuten erstmals Trading, Wallet und Payment vollständig in einer Plattform.
Besonders bemerkenswert ist auch die Verknüpfung mit dem Rakuten-Punktesystem – eines der größten Bonusprogramme weltweit. Über drei Billionen Punkte, umgerechnet rund 23 Milliarden US-Dollar, befinden sich derzeit im Umlauf. Diese können nun direkt in XRP umgewandelt werden.
https://www.wallstreet-online.de/nachricht/...illionen-rakuten-nutzer
16.04.26 21:30
#14180
Libuda
Rakuten Travel Awards 2025 Ceremony Digest
April 16, 2026
Rakuten Travel has announced the "Rakuten Travel Award 2025," recognizing the top registered accommodation facilities across Japan. Just 0.6% of around 40,000 facilities nationwide were selected for the exclusive gathering, where they celebrated their success alongside Rakuten employees. In addition to the awards, 2025 initiatives were shared at the ceremony, with many hotels emphasizing their focus on AI utilization and DX (digital transformation), with comments such as "switched to advance card payments for all booking sites" and "advanced operational efficiency using AI."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y8NwPl0qxk
Rakuten Travel has announced the "Rakuten Travel Award 2025," recognizing the top registered accommodation facilities across Japan. Just 0.6% of around 40,000 facilities nationwide were selected for the exclusive gathering, where they celebrated their success alongside Rakuten employees. In addition to the awards, 2025 initiatives were shared at the ceremony, with many hotels emphasizing their focus on AI utilization and DX (digital transformation), with comments such as "switched to advance card payments for all booking sites" and "advanced operational efficiency using AI."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y8NwPl0qxk