Rakuten wesentlich besser als Rocket
03.01.26 13:27
#13851
Libuda
Rakuten Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi
Rakuten renames Miyagi Stadium to Rakuten Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi
December 1, 2025
Rakuten Group's Miyagi Stadium in Sendai will be renamed "Rakuten Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi" starting in January 2026. The naming rights deal will last for three years. The change from "Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi" aims to increase recognition for Rakuten Mobile's "Saikyo Plan" and "Saikyo U-NEXT" services. It also signifies a commitment to energize the region alongside the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. This renaming reflects a strategy to connect Rakuten's services with fan experience and regional engagement. The new name will be in effect until December 2028.
https://www.newsminimalist.com/articles/...aikyo-park-miyagi-87d70daf
December 1, 2025
Rakuten Group's Miyagi Stadium in Sendai will be renamed "Rakuten Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi" starting in January 2026. The naming rights deal will last for three years. The change from "Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi" aims to increase recognition for Rakuten Mobile's "Saikyo Plan" and "Saikyo U-NEXT" services. It also signifies a commitment to energize the region alongside the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. This renaming reflects a strategy to connect Rakuten's services with fan experience and regional engagement. The new name will be in effect until December 2028.
https://www.newsminimalist.com/articles/...aikyo-park-miyagi-87d70daf
03.01.26 14:23
#13852
Libuda
A look back at a year of growth
Rakuten Cloud's stellar 2025: a look back at a year of growth
From online to in-person, 2025 was a great year for Rakuten Cloud’s growth and achievements. The team seized numerous opportunities to educate and inform the market about our unique offering: market-leading cloud-native containerization software.
This powerful suite includes the Kubernetes-based Rakuten Cloud-Native Platform, comprehensive orchestration and automation via Rakuten Cloud-Native Orchestrator, and stateless, application-aware Rakuten Cloud-Native Storage. Together, these three components provide customers with a single, unified platform for any workload.
On the road to trade shows across the globe
2025 was a year of extensive global outreach for the Rakuten Cloud team, allowing us to connect directly with customers worldwide. Our journey began in Spain at MWC Barcelona, where we joined the Rakuten Symphony team to champion cloud-native edge for mobile telecom networks. We expanded our reach by partnering with Dell for GITEX in Dubai, UAE, and MWC Doha 2025 in Qatar, in addition to our participation in the Rakuten Global Partner Summit in Tokyo.
Our tradeshow calendar also included KubeCon Europe in London, where we showcased Rakuten Cloud's capabilities in building out edge AI deployments. In April, we attended Google Cloud Next '25, where we highlighted our role as a cloud-native storage technology partner for Google Distributed Cloud Edge. This involved collaborative presentations, booth talks, and demonstrations on integrating Rakuten Cloud-Native storage within Google Distributed Cloud Edge environments.
Driving growth through partner & customer collaboration
We signed several new partners in 2025, including IDEAL for distribution in the Middle East and Africa, and SimplyTech and Wevy Cloud for distribution across Latin America. We are also working with Polystack to serve customers in India.
We also expanded our partnership with Google Cloud, enabling customers to access Rakuten Cloud software through the Google Cloud Marketplace. This agreement immediately granted customers worldwide access to the software.
We met with many of our new partners and their customers to help them better understand the impact of edge cloud on their businesses. For these partner events, we traveled to Las Vegas to participate in a Google partner event, visited Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia with SimplyTech, and went to Jakarta with Alita Praya Mitra.
To round out our distribution channel marketing efforts, we brought Google's Vijay Tewari and Rakuten Cloud's Oni Chakravartti onto our ZeroTouch Live LinkedIn Newsletter, which has more than 83,000 followers. In a lively conversation, the two discussed the impact of stateful edge on the success of edge computing.
Elevating our digital presence
Our digital footprint expanded significantly in 2025, driven by the redesign of our website and impactful content collaborations with some of the industry’s leading analyst firms and publications.
The new Rakuten Cloud website showcases a fresh visual identity, comprehensive product pages, and a dedicated Resource Center to house our growing catalog of informational content.
To further our thought leadership, we joined forces with leading industry voices:
We sponsored a three-part series in Retail Dive on modernizing retail with edge cloud, accompanied by a practical playbook that guides retailers on leveraging edge cloud for operations, inventory management, data security, and margin optimization.
Leveraging IDC's expertise, we co-created the "Edge AI for Industry Innovation" InfoBrief, a 17-page, data-rich guide designed to help organizations capitalize on edge cloud opportunities.
We also teamed up with TechTarget’s Enterprise Strategy Group research firm for “What is Edge Computing?” This educational video explains real-time cloud-native technology in a clear and easily understandable manner for all industry professionals.
Launching cloud-native object storage
Rakuten Cloud-Native Storage experienced a significant expansion this year with the introduction of its object storage offering. Joining our established block and file storage, this new capability empowers users to create highly scalable and economical storage solutions, ideal for diverse data types and formats.
A good year for industry recognition
This year proved to be exceptionally strong for industry recognition, with Rakuten Cloud receiving numerous prestigious awards and accolades from peers and experts. Among the significant honors garnered this year were:
Future Digital Awards: Telecoms Cloud Innovation – Platinum Award
TMC Cloud Computing Awards: 2025 Product of the Year (Rakuten Cloud)
STL Partners: 50 edge computing companies to watch in 2025
FutureNet World Awards: Best Automation Solution
World Communication Awards: Cloud Silver Award and Platform Silver Award for the Rakuten Cloud-Native Platform
Rakuten Cloud software was also extensively evaluated by Nokia and recognized as a recommended solution for its cloud-native core networks. This acknowledgment by an industry leader demonstrates that Rakuten Cloud is well-suited for mobile network applications.
Accelerating momentum for 2026 and beyond
As we look to the coming year, our plans are rapidly taking shape, driven by the strong momentum established this year. The team is already committed to maintaining a robust global presence, with confirmed participation at key industry events, including MWC Barcelona, where we will showcase cloud-native edge and mobile telecom advancements, and Google Cloud Next 2026, where we will strengthen our partnership with Google Cloud, particularly for Distributed Cloud Edge.
Building on this year's strong momentum, 2026 will bring accelerated growth, expanded partnerships, and new collaborations that further extend our market leadership and deliver greater customer value. Join us on this exciting journey as we continue to shape the future of cloud technology!
https://cloud.rakuten.com/blogs/...25-a-look-back-at-a-year-of-growth
From online to in-person, 2025 was a great year for Rakuten Cloud’s growth and achievements. The team seized numerous opportunities to educate and inform the market about our unique offering: market-leading cloud-native containerization software.
This powerful suite includes the Kubernetes-based Rakuten Cloud-Native Platform, comprehensive orchestration and automation via Rakuten Cloud-Native Orchestrator, and stateless, application-aware Rakuten Cloud-Native Storage. Together, these three components provide customers with a single, unified platform for any workload.
On the road to trade shows across the globe
2025 was a year of extensive global outreach for the Rakuten Cloud team, allowing us to connect directly with customers worldwide. Our journey began in Spain at MWC Barcelona, where we joined the Rakuten Symphony team to champion cloud-native edge for mobile telecom networks. We expanded our reach by partnering with Dell for GITEX in Dubai, UAE, and MWC Doha 2025 in Qatar, in addition to our participation in the Rakuten Global Partner Summit in Tokyo.
Our tradeshow calendar also included KubeCon Europe in London, where we showcased Rakuten Cloud's capabilities in building out edge AI deployments. In April, we attended Google Cloud Next '25, where we highlighted our role as a cloud-native storage technology partner for Google Distributed Cloud Edge. This involved collaborative presentations, booth talks, and demonstrations on integrating Rakuten Cloud-Native storage within Google Distributed Cloud Edge environments.
Driving growth through partner & customer collaboration
We signed several new partners in 2025, including IDEAL for distribution in the Middle East and Africa, and SimplyTech and Wevy Cloud for distribution across Latin America. We are also working with Polystack to serve customers in India.
We also expanded our partnership with Google Cloud, enabling customers to access Rakuten Cloud software through the Google Cloud Marketplace. This agreement immediately granted customers worldwide access to the software.
We met with many of our new partners and their customers to help them better understand the impact of edge cloud on their businesses. For these partner events, we traveled to Las Vegas to participate in a Google partner event, visited Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia with SimplyTech, and went to Jakarta with Alita Praya Mitra.
To round out our distribution channel marketing efforts, we brought Google's Vijay Tewari and Rakuten Cloud's Oni Chakravartti onto our ZeroTouch Live LinkedIn Newsletter, which has more than 83,000 followers. In a lively conversation, the two discussed the impact of stateful edge on the success of edge computing.
Elevating our digital presence
Our digital footprint expanded significantly in 2025, driven by the redesign of our website and impactful content collaborations with some of the industry’s leading analyst firms and publications.
The new Rakuten Cloud website showcases a fresh visual identity, comprehensive product pages, and a dedicated Resource Center to house our growing catalog of informational content.
To further our thought leadership, we joined forces with leading industry voices:
We sponsored a three-part series in Retail Dive on modernizing retail with edge cloud, accompanied by a practical playbook that guides retailers on leveraging edge cloud for operations, inventory management, data security, and margin optimization.
Leveraging IDC's expertise, we co-created the "Edge AI for Industry Innovation" InfoBrief, a 17-page, data-rich guide designed to help organizations capitalize on edge cloud opportunities.
We also teamed up with TechTarget’s Enterprise Strategy Group research firm for “What is Edge Computing?” This educational video explains real-time cloud-native technology in a clear and easily understandable manner for all industry professionals.
Launching cloud-native object storage
Rakuten Cloud-Native Storage experienced a significant expansion this year with the introduction of its object storage offering. Joining our established block and file storage, this new capability empowers users to create highly scalable and economical storage solutions, ideal for diverse data types and formats.
A good year for industry recognition
This year proved to be exceptionally strong for industry recognition, with Rakuten Cloud receiving numerous prestigious awards and accolades from peers and experts. Among the significant honors garnered this year were:
Future Digital Awards: Telecoms Cloud Innovation – Platinum Award
TMC Cloud Computing Awards: 2025 Product of the Year (Rakuten Cloud)
STL Partners: 50 edge computing companies to watch in 2025
FutureNet World Awards: Best Automation Solution
World Communication Awards: Cloud Silver Award and Platform Silver Award for the Rakuten Cloud-Native Platform
Rakuten Cloud software was also extensively evaluated by Nokia and recognized as a recommended solution for its cloud-native core networks. This acknowledgment by an industry leader demonstrates that Rakuten Cloud is well-suited for mobile network applications.
Accelerating momentum for 2026 and beyond
As we look to the coming year, our plans are rapidly taking shape, driven by the strong momentum established this year. The team is already committed to maintaining a robust global presence, with confirmed participation at key industry events, including MWC Barcelona, where we will showcase cloud-native edge and mobile telecom advancements, and Google Cloud Next 2026, where we will strengthen our partnership with Google Cloud, particularly for Distributed Cloud Edge.
Building on this year's strong momentum, 2026 will bring accelerated growth, expanded partnerships, and new collaborations that further extend our market leadership and deliver greater customer value. Join us on this exciting journey as we continue to shape the future of cloud technology!
https://cloud.rakuten.com/blogs/...25-a-look-back-at-a-year-of-growth
03.01.26 18:17
#13853
Libuda
Rakuten Cloud plays a crucial role
"Rakuten Cloud plays a crucial role in our ongoing partnership. Our engineers are constantly collaborating with each other. That’s how we collectively develop and ultimately deliver significant value to the customer."
Vijay Tewari
Head of Product Management,
Google Cloud
Vijay Tewari
Head of Product Management,
Google Cloud
03.01.26 22:12
#13854
Libuda
New Year Fair with Discounts and Point Giveaway
Rakuten Travel to Hold New Year Fair with Discounts and Point Giveaway
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Rakuten Group will hold a “New Year Fair” on its travel booking website “Rakuten Travel” from 10:00 a.m. on December 22 through January 9, 2026.
By using coupons, domestic hotel stays can be discounted by up to 15%, overseas tour packages by up to 50,000 yen, domestic tour packages by up to 15,000 yen, activities and experiences by up to 5%, and rental cars by up to 55%. Some coupons can be used in combination.
In addition, those who register for the promotion and travel during the campaign will share a total of 3 million Rakuten Points. Rakuten Mobile subscribers can earn double points. The eligible travel period is from December 22 to February 28, 2026.
https://en.traicy.com/posts/2025122331167/
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Rakuten Group will hold a “New Year Fair” on its travel booking website “Rakuten Travel” from 10:00 a.m. on December 22 through January 9, 2026.
By using coupons, domestic hotel stays can be discounted by up to 15%, overseas tour packages by up to 50,000 yen, domestic tour packages by up to 15,000 yen, activities and experiences by up to 5%, and rental cars by up to 55%. Some coupons can be used in combination.
In addition, those who register for the promotion and travel during the campaign will share a total of 3 million Rakuten Points. Rakuten Mobile subscribers can earn double points. The eligible travel period is from December 22 to February 28, 2026.
https://en.traicy.com/posts/2025122331167/
03.01.26 23:01
#13855
Libuda
Open RAN poised for a 2026 surge
Despite 2025 turbulence, open RAN poised for a 2026 surge
By Monica Alleven Dec 29, 2025
Is open RAN dead? Not according to Airspan, Dell, Samsung, Fujitsu and Dell’Oro Group
Vendors acknowledge the slow start to open RAN, but they report progress in moving to the multi-vendor stage
Dell’Oro Group expects meaningful scale for both open RAN and AI RAN over time
At the beginning of 2025, Airspan CEO Glenn Laxdal told Fierce that he was jazzed about the open RAN market due to its growth prospects. Turns out, he wasn’t wrong.
For Dell Technologies, 2025 was the year open RAN transitioned from a promising concept to a scalable, commercially viable reality, according to Sandro Tavares, director of Telecom Systems Marketing at Dell.
Samsung: We’re encouraged
One of the most highly anticipated announcements of 2025 was Vodafone’s Spring 6 selection, which saw Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung and Huawei all getting a piece of that business.
That marked a key milestone for Samsung, in addition to its participation in Orange France’s open RAN field pilot, according to Alok Shah, vice president of Strategy & Marketing for the networks business at Samsung Electronics America.
With wins at AT&T, SoftBank, Rakuten Mobile and Vodafone under its belt, 1Finity is certainly feeling good about its status in open RAN. But Hughes said the open RAN success story goes a step further than that.
Samsung’s Shah said they’re not focused on that. “We believe the industry commentary around the bleak future of open RAN is overstated,” he said. “On the contrary, we expect that 2026 will be a year of meaningful open RAN scaling, driven largely by operators in Europe.”
Stefan Pongratz, who closely tracks the RAN market globally for Dell’Oro Group, said his long-term view about the market remains unchanged, just as it has since he began tracking the market five years ago.
https://www.fierce-network.com/wireless/...open-ran-poised-2026-surge
By Monica Alleven Dec 29, 2025
Is open RAN dead? Not according to Airspan, Dell, Samsung, Fujitsu and Dell’Oro Group
Vendors acknowledge the slow start to open RAN, but they report progress in moving to the multi-vendor stage
Dell’Oro Group expects meaningful scale for both open RAN and AI RAN over time
At the beginning of 2025, Airspan CEO Glenn Laxdal told Fierce that he was jazzed about the open RAN market due to its growth prospects. Turns out, he wasn’t wrong.
For Dell Technologies, 2025 was the year open RAN transitioned from a promising concept to a scalable, commercially viable reality, according to Sandro Tavares, director of Telecom Systems Marketing at Dell.
Samsung: We’re encouraged
One of the most highly anticipated announcements of 2025 was Vodafone’s Spring 6 selection, which saw Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung and Huawei all getting a piece of that business.
That marked a key milestone for Samsung, in addition to its participation in Orange France’s open RAN field pilot, according to Alok Shah, vice president of Strategy & Marketing for the networks business at Samsung Electronics America.
With wins at AT&T, SoftBank, Rakuten Mobile and Vodafone under its belt, 1Finity is certainly feeling good about its status in open RAN. But Hughes said the open RAN success story goes a step further than that.
Samsung’s Shah said they’re not focused on that. “We believe the industry commentary around the bleak future of open RAN is overstated,” he said. “On the contrary, we expect that 2026 will be a year of meaningful open RAN scaling, driven largely by operators in Europe.”
Stefan Pongratz, who closely tracks the RAN market globally for Dell’Oro Group, said his long-term view about the market remains unchanged, just as it has since he began tracking the market five years ago.
https://www.fierce-network.com/wireless/...open-ran-poised-2026-surge
04.01.26 11:31
#13856
Libuda
Rakuten is an important owner of Carousell
Carousell, the Singapore-based classifieds platform, has released its financial results for the 2024 financial year.
Highlights include:
Revenues increase to $119.3 million, up 2.9% YoY
Classifieds Advertising revenue reaches $52.8 million, up 10.6% YoY
Net losses of $33.2 million were down 13% YoY
Cash and cash equivalents increased to $50.5 million, up 60.3% YoY
https://www.onlinemarketplaces.com/articles/...revenues-edge-upwards/
Highlights include:
Revenues increase to $119.3 million, up 2.9% YoY
Classifieds Advertising revenue reaches $52.8 million, up 10.6% YoY
Net losses of $33.2 million were down 13% YoY
Cash and cash equivalents increased to $50.5 million, up 60.3% YoY
https://www.onlinemarketplaces.com/articles/...revenues-edge-upwards/
04.01.26 13:15
#13857
Libuda
CAGR of 25.95% for Open RAN
The global open RAN market size was valued at USD 5.75 billion in 2025. The market is projected to grow from USD 7.24 billion in 2026 to USD 45.87 billion by 2034, exhibiting a CAGR of 25.95% during the forecast period.
Source: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/open-ran-market-112214
Source: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/open-ran-market-112214
04.01.26 17:09
#13858
Libuda
Rakuten is one of the owners of Acorns
https://www.acorns.com/recurring-investments-20/...p;s4=recurinvest20
https://www.acorns.com/recurring-investments-20/...p;s4=recurinvest20
04.01.26 21:31
#13859
Libuda
KI im Einsatz bei Rakuten France
KI und Automatisierung: die neuen Treiber des E-Commerce
Laut dem Customer Service Observatory 2025 (BVA) haben 27 % der französischen Verbraucher bereits generative KI verwendet, um ihre Anfragen zu formulieren oder vorzubereiten, bevor sie den Kundenservice kontaktieren. Dieser Trend spiegelt einen klaren Bedarf wider: schnellere, flüssigere und relevantere Interaktionen.
Tatsächlich sind E-Commerce, künstliche Intelligenz und Automatisierung bereits operative Hebel. Sie sparen Zeit, verfeinern Ihre Entscheidungen und verbessern das Kundenerlebnis im großen Maßstab mit:
Verbesserte Suchmaschinen und Produktvorschläge
Künstliche Intelligenz hilft, interne Suchmaschinen und Produktempfehlungen zu optimieren. Prädiktive Analysen des Kaufverhaltens und die Hyperpersonalisierung von Journeys sorgen dafür, dass Sie die richtigen Produkte zur richtigen Zeit den richtigen Käufern anbieten. Die Navigation ist flüssiger, die Customer Journey relevanter und man sieht einen direkten Anstieg der Konversionsrate.
Wusstest du das? Die interne Suchmaschine von Rakuten basiert auf fortgeschrittenen semantischen Analysemodellen, die helfen, Besucheranfragen zu identifizieren, auch wenn sie ungenau sind. Wenn ein Käufer zum Beispiel "ifone" statt "Iphone" eingibt, erkennt die KI-unterstützte Engine, dass es sich um einen Tippfehler handelt, und zeigt trotzdem die richtigen Produkte an, anstatt einen Fehler oder eine leere Seite anzuzeigen.
Automatisierung von Marketing- und Vertriebsaufgaben
Marketing-Automatisierung setzt außerdem auf KI, um komplexe Aktionen zu orchestrieren: automatische Zusammenfassungen von Kundeninteraktionen, intelligente Werbetargeting, ultra-personalisierte Erinnerungen an verlassene Warenwagen oder sogar Personalisierung von E-Mails und kommerziellen Angeboten. Die Verkaufsautomatisierung ermöglicht es Ihnen außerdem, die Prozesse der Angebotserstellung, Kundennachverfolgung und Pflege (die Pflege und Unterstützung des Interessenten während seiner gesamten Kaufreise durch personalisierte Inhalte und Nachrichten) zu optimieren. Dieser Trend ermöglicht es Ihnen, Ihre Gesamtverkaufsleistung zu verbessern.
Wusstest du das?
Rakuten verfügt über eigene KI- und Automatisierungsteams. Sie sind verantwortlich für die Entwicklung von Funktionen, die Ihre Effizienz und das Erlebnis der Internetnutzer, die unseren Marktplatz besuchen und kaufen, verbessern.
https://global.fr.shopping.rakuten.com/actualites/...nces-e-commerce/
Laut dem Customer Service Observatory 2025 (BVA) haben 27 % der französischen Verbraucher bereits generative KI verwendet, um ihre Anfragen zu formulieren oder vorzubereiten, bevor sie den Kundenservice kontaktieren. Dieser Trend spiegelt einen klaren Bedarf wider: schnellere, flüssigere und relevantere Interaktionen.
Tatsächlich sind E-Commerce, künstliche Intelligenz und Automatisierung bereits operative Hebel. Sie sparen Zeit, verfeinern Ihre Entscheidungen und verbessern das Kundenerlebnis im großen Maßstab mit:
Verbesserte Suchmaschinen und Produktvorschläge
Künstliche Intelligenz hilft, interne Suchmaschinen und Produktempfehlungen zu optimieren. Prädiktive Analysen des Kaufverhaltens und die Hyperpersonalisierung von Journeys sorgen dafür, dass Sie die richtigen Produkte zur richtigen Zeit den richtigen Käufern anbieten. Die Navigation ist flüssiger, die Customer Journey relevanter und man sieht einen direkten Anstieg der Konversionsrate.
Wusstest du das? Die interne Suchmaschine von Rakuten basiert auf fortgeschrittenen semantischen Analysemodellen, die helfen, Besucheranfragen zu identifizieren, auch wenn sie ungenau sind. Wenn ein Käufer zum Beispiel "ifone" statt "Iphone" eingibt, erkennt die KI-unterstützte Engine, dass es sich um einen Tippfehler handelt, und zeigt trotzdem die richtigen Produkte an, anstatt einen Fehler oder eine leere Seite anzuzeigen.
Automatisierung von Marketing- und Vertriebsaufgaben
Marketing-Automatisierung setzt außerdem auf KI, um komplexe Aktionen zu orchestrieren: automatische Zusammenfassungen von Kundeninteraktionen, intelligente Werbetargeting, ultra-personalisierte Erinnerungen an verlassene Warenwagen oder sogar Personalisierung von E-Mails und kommerziellen Angeboten. Die Verkaufsautomatisierung ermöglicht es Ihnen außerdem, die Prozesse der Angebotserstellung, Kundennachverfolgung und Pflege (die Pflege und Unterstützung des Interessenten während seiner gesamten Kaufreise durch personalisierte Inhalte und Nachrichten) zu optimieren. Dieser Trend ermöglicht es Ihnen, Ihre Gesamtverkaufsleistung zu verbessern.
Wusstest du das?
Rakuten verfügt über eigene KI- und Automatisierungsteams. Sie sind verantwortlich für die Entwicklung von Funktionen, die Ihre Effizienz und das Erlebnis der Internetnutzer, die unseren Marktplatz besuchen und kaufen, verbessern.
https://global.fr.shopping.rakuten.com/actualites/...nces-e-commerce/
04.01.26 23:03
#13860
Libuda
Absurd niedrige Schätzungen - auch wenn
sie im positiven Bereich liegen:
https://aktien.guide/kursziel/Rakuten-JP3967200001
https://aktien.guide/kursziel/Rakuten-JP3967200001
05.01.26 14:30
#13861
Libuda
Rakuten Transformed Mobile Network Playbook
Part 1/5 RAN Revolution Explained: How Japan's Rakuten’s Open RAN Transformed Mobile Network Playbook
Suresh Kunchakuri
19. Nov. 2025
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/...kutens-open-suresh-kunchakuri-kkble
Suresh Kunchakuri
19. Nov. 2025
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/...kutens-open-suresh-kunchakuri-kkble
05.01.26 17:59
#13862
Libuda
More about Rakuten Bank
Key Valuation Metrics (Early Jan 2026)
Market Cap: Approximately $7.69 Billion USD.
Stock Price (as of Jan 3, 2026): Around ¥6,912.00 JPY.
Analyst Price Target: Average 12-month target of ¥8,244 JPY (around +19% upside).
FY2026 Guidance (Mar 31, 2026): Expected profit attributable to owners of ¥64.3 billion (¥368.79 per share).
Valuation Drivers
Growth: Strong performance in FinTech and Mobile segments within the broader Rakuten Group.
Analyst Sentiment: Positive outlook with a "Buy" consensus, suggesting undervaluation.
https://www.google.com/...ent=gws-wiz&sei=e-xbaYe8BKODxc8Pr7TjwQE
Market Cap: Approximately $7.69 Billion USD.
Stock Price (as of Jan 3, 2026): Around ¥6,912.00 JPY.
Analyst Price Target: Average 12-month target of ¥8,244 JPY (around +19% upside).
FY2026 Guidance (Mar 31, 2026): Expected profit attributable to owners of ¥64.3 billion (¥368.79 per share).
Valuation Drivers
Growth: Strong performance in FinTech and Mobile segments within the broader Rakuten Group.
Analyst Sentiment: Positive outlook with a "Buy" consensus, suggesting undervaluation.
https://www.google.com/...ent=gws-wiz&sei=e-xbaYe8BKODxc8Pr7TjwQE
05.01.26 19:36
#13863
Libuda
Alternative lending market is set to grow
Japan's alternative lending market is set to grow at a robust annual rate of 14.2%, expecting to reach US$31.64 billion by 2025. This growth trend is projected to continue with a CAGR of 14.1% from 2025 to 2029, expanding the market to approximately US$53.67 billion by 2029.
Players like Rakuten and PayPay are extending lending across their platforms, enhancing embedded finance's role in online marketplaces like Amazon Japan. With Japan's e-commerce concentrating on a few dominant platforms, embedded credit proliferation enhances checkout experience and seller dashboards, informed by sales data.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/...ending-market-report-104900196.html
Japan's alternative lending market is set to grow at a robust annual rate of 14.2%, expecting to reach US$31.64 billion by 2025. This growth trend is projected to continue with a CAGR of 14.1% from 2025 to 2029, expanding the market to approximately US$53.67 billion by 2029.
Players like Rakuten and PayPay are extending lending across their platforms, enhancing embedded finance's role in online marketplaces like Amazon Japan. With Japan's e-commerce concentrating on a few dominant platforms, embedded credit proliferation enhances checkout experience and seller dashboards, informed by sales data.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/...ending-market-report-104900196.html
05.01.26 21:32
#13864
Libuda
How to apply for Rakuten Credit Card in Japan 2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5MRiFD7y5g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5MRiFD7y5g
05.01.26 21:46
#13865
Libuda
$7 billion for Rakuten Card last year
Mizuho Financial Group acquired a 15% stake in Rakuten Card for 165 billion yen ($1.1 billion) last year, valuing the business at more than 1 trillion yen, or $7 billion.
https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/...s-sources-say-2025-10-15/
https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/...s-sources-say-2025-10-15/
06.01.26 06:39
#13866
Libuda
Cornerstone Rakuten Card
From Crisis to Core: Rakuten Card's 20-year Journey Since Issuance
January 06, 2026
2025 marked 20 years since the first Rakuten Card was issued! From overcoming a crisis that threatened its very existence, to forging partnerships with Rakuten Ichiba, diligently building customer acquisition campaigns, driving system innovation, and giving birth to "Rakuten Cardman", numerous challenges have borne fruit, transforming Rakuten Card into an industry leader in Japan. With marketing initiatives like the "SPU" Program and "Rakuten Maji-Toku Festival" achieving a huge number of new contracts, Rakuten Card has become a cornerstone of the Rakuten Ecosystem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h18x1rP470
January 06, 2026
2025 marked 20 years since the first Rakuten Card was issued! From overcoming a crisis that threatened its very existence, to forging partnerships with Rakuten Ichiba, diligently building customer acquisition campaigns, driving system innovation, and giving birth to "Rakuten Cardman", numerous challenges have borne fruit, transforming Rakuten Card into an industry leader in Japan. With marketing initiatives like the "SPU" Program and "Rakuten Maji-Toku Festival" achieving a huge number of new contracts, Rakuten Card has become a cornerstone of the Rakuten Ecosystem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h18x1rP470
06.01.26 09:31
#13867
Libuda
AI Tool Rakuten AI into Rakuten Ichiba Mobile App
Rakuten Integrates Cutting-Edge Agentic AI Tool “Rakuten AI” into Rakuten Ichiba Mobile App
- AI concierge for Rakuten Ichiba, offers users a discovery shopping experience and optimized product selection
Tokyo, January 5, 2026 - Rakuten Group, Inc. today announced the launch of the agentic AI tool Rakuten AI on the mobile app version of Rakuten Ichiba, its flagship online marketplace.
This AI concierge on Rakuten Ichiba leverages conversational shopping to understand user needs and offer a discovery shopping experience featuring optimized product selection and unique product matching.
Users can easily search for products by accessing Rakuten AI via an icon in the bottom right corner of the Rakuten Ichiba app home screen and entering their desired budget, purchase purpose and usage scenario using text, voice, or images. By engaging in dialogue and responding to additional questions from the AI concierge, users can fully explore their personal needs and receive highly relevant product recommendations. This enables users to find ideal products, matching their needs and preferences, from Rakuten Ichiba's vast product catalog of approximately 500 million items.
In addition to Rakuten Ichiba’s product details and price comparison information, the agent also leverages general web search results to recommend products that reflect broader real-world trends including climate, popular trends and social landscape. This allows Rakuten AI to provide comprehensive information that supports more informed purchasing decisions for users.
Going forward, Rakuten aims to leverage its robust e-commerce service marketing data to provide product recommendations that even more closely align with user needs. Rakuten will continuously improve product recommendation accuracy, to deliver a highly personalized shopping experience for every user.
Rakuten is promoting the use of AI in all aspects of its businesses to achieve further growth, as part of its "AI-nization" initiative. Rakuten AI is a cutting-edge agentic AI tool developed by Rakuten to enhance customer experiences and support daily life within the Rakuten Ecosystem. Guided by the principles of innovation, creativity and collaboration to empower society and individuals, Rakuten seeks to connect users to a wide range of services within the Rakuten Ecosystem through AI agents and deliver increasingly personalized experiences. The integration of Rakuten AI into the Rakuten Ichiba app represents a significant step forward in expanding ecosystem-wide services.
Rakuten will continue to promote the use of AI within Rakuten Ichiba and strengthen collaboration with Rakuten AI to empower each individual shopper with even greater levels of convenience and satisfaction.
https://global.rakuten.com/corp/news/press/2026/...tegory=corp%2520ec
- AI concierge for Rakuten Ichiba, offers users a discovery shopping experience and optimized product selection
Tokyo, January 5, 2026 - Rakuten Group, Inc. today announced the launch of the agentic AI tool Rakuten AI on the mobile app version of Rakuten Ichiba, its flagship online marketplace.
This AI concierge on Rakuten Ichiba leverages conversational shopping to understand user needs and offer a discovery shopping experience featuring optimized product selection and unique product matching.
Users can easily search for products by accessing Rakuten AI via an icon in the bottom right corner of the Rakuten Ichiba app home screen and entering their desired budget, purchase purpose and usage scenario using text, voice, or images. By engaging in dialogue and responding to additional questions from the AI concierge, users can fully explore their personal needs and receive highly relevant product recommendations. This enables users to find ideal products, matching their needs and preferences, from Rakuten Ichiba's vast product catalog of approximately 500 million items.
In addition to Rakuten Ichiba’s product details and price comparison information, the agent also leverages general web search results to recommend products that reflect broader real-world trends including climate, popular trends and social landscape. This allows Rakuten AI to provide comprehensive information that supports more informed purchasing decisions for users.
Going forward, Rakuten aims to leverage its robust e-commerce service marketing data to provide product recommendations that even more closely align with user needs. Rakuten will continuously improve product recommendation accuracy, to deliver a highly personalized shopping experience for every user.
Rakuten is promoting the use of AI in all aspects of its businesses to achieve further growth, as part of its "AI-nization" initiative. Rakuten AI is a cutting-edge agentic AI tool developed by Rakuten to enhance customer experiences and support daily life within the Rakuten Ecosystem. Guided by the principles of innovation, creativity and collaboration to empower society and individuals, Rakuten seeks to connect users to a wide range of services within the Rakuten Ecosystem through AI agents and deliver increasingly personalized experiences. The integration of Rakuten AI into the Rakuten Ichiba app represents a significant step forward in expanding ecosystem-wide services.
Rakuten will continue to promote the use of AI within Rakuten Ichiba and strengthen collaboration with Rakuten AI to empower each individual shopper with even greater levels of convenience and satisfaction.
https://global.rakuten.com/corp/news/press/2026/...tegory=corp%2520ec
06.01.26 15:22
#13868
Libuda
Surpasses 13 Trillion Yen in Total Deposit Balance
Rakuten Bank Surpasses 13 Trillion Yen in Total Deposit Balance
Tokyo, January 5, 2026 - Rakuten Bank, Ltd. today announced that its total balance of deposits (non-consolidated) has surpassed 13 trillion yen as of the end of December 2025.
This milestone reflects the steady growth of the bank, which exceeded 17 million accounts in May 2025, and the popularity of its fully online banking services, which never requires a visit to a physical location.
The bank has also enhanced customer benefits through collaborations within the Rakuten Group. These include Money Bridge, which links Rakuten Bank and Rakuten Securities accounts to offer preferential interest rates on account balances, and the Bonus Interest program, which increases ordinary deposit rates based on usage of salary, bonus, pension deposits, debit cards and automatic transfers. The bank also participates in the Super Point Up Program, which boosts points earned when shopping on Rakuten Ichiba.
Amid the growing shift towards a cashless society, Rakuten Bank provides services such as the Rakuten Bank Debit Card, which offers contactless payments, enabling users to make payments quickly and easily both in Japan and overseas, and the Rakuten Pay app, which allows customers to directly debit their Rakuten Bank account.
Since its deposit balances exceeded 12 trillion yen, Rakuten Bank has continued to enhance its service quality, for example, by broadening the number of organizations that accept direct debit for public utility payments. These efforts, combined with the widespread adoption of Rakuten Bank accounts for daily transactions, have led to its deposit balance now surpassing 13 trillion yen.
Rakuten Bank continues to enhance customer offerings through initiatives such as the Winter Bonus Campaign for Yen Time Deposits, available until January 31, 2026, which provides a one-year deposit at a special interest rate of 1.00% per annum (0.796% after tax), and the Strongest Ever Rewards Festival, running until February 28, 2026, offering account opening and service use rewards equivalent to up to 25,000 yen.
https://global.rakuten.com/corp/news/press/2026/...p;category=fintech
Tokyo, January 5, 2026 - Rakuten Bank, Ltd. today announced that its total balance of deposits (non-consolidated) has surpassed 13 trillion yen as of the end of December 2025.
This milestone reflects the steady growth of the bank, which exceeded 17 million accounts in May 2025, and the popularity of its fully online banking services, which never requires a visit to a physical location.
The bank has also enhanced customer benefits through collaborations within the Rakuten Group. These include Money Bridge, which links Rakuten Bank and Rakuten Securities accounts to offer preferential interest rates on account balances, and the Bonus Interest program, which increases ordinary deposit rates based on usage of salary, bonus, pension deposits, debit cards and automatic transfers. The bank also participates in the Super Point Up Program, which boosts points earned when shopping on Rakuten Ichiba.
Amid the growing shift towards a cashless society, Rakuten Bank provides services such as the Rakuten Bank Debit Card, which offers contactless payments, enabling users to make payments quickly and easily both in Japan and overseas, and the Rakuten Pay app, which allows customers to directly debit their Rakuten Bank account.
Since its deposit balances exceeded 12 trillion yen, Rakuten Bank has continued to enhance its service quality, for example, by broadening the number of organizations that accept direct debit for public utility payments. These efforts, combined with the widespread adoption of Rakuten Bank accounts for daily transactions, have led to its deposit balance now surpassing 13 trillion yen.
Rakuten Bank continues to enhance customer offerings through initiatives such as the Winter Bonus Campaign for Yen Time Deposits, available until January 31, 2026, which provides a one-year deposit at a special interest rate of 1.00% per annum (0.796% after tax), and the Strongest Ever Rewards Festival, running until February 28, 2026, offering account opening and service use rewards equivalent to up to 25,000 yen.
https://global.rakuten.com/corp/news/press/2026/...p;category=fintech
06.01.26 17:09
#13869
Libuda
Securities wins first place overall for the fifth
Rakuten Securities wins first place overall for the fifth time in the "2026 Oricon Customer Satisfaction ® Ranking Net Securities"!
January 5, 2026
2026 Oricon Customer Satisfaction ® Ranking Net Securities Overall No. 1
Rakuten Securities Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President & CEO: Yuji Kusunoki, hereinafter referred to as "Rakuten Securities") is pleased to announce that it has won the first place overall for the fifth time in the "2026 Oricon Customer Satisfaction ® Survey Net Securities" announced by Oricon Corporation today.
The "Oricon Customer Satisfaction ® Survey Net Securities" was launched by oricon ME Co., Ltd. in 2006, and conducts a questionnaire survey for customers who are actually investing and building assets at securities companies, and 9 items are aggregated and evaluated.
In this survey, Rakuten Securities won the top evaluation in five categories: "account opening and benefits", "ease of trading", "analysis tools", "asset management", and "information provided", and won the top evaluation in all categories of "PC", "smartphone site", and "smartphone app" in all categories of "domestic stocks", "foreign stocks", and "investment trusts" by management product. As a result of winning first place in many surveyed items, we were able to win first place in the overall evaluation for the fifth time.
Rakuten Securities is working to provide an environment where all customers can use the latest services that emphasize safety more easily and at a lower cost in order to satisfy all customers based on "customer-oriented business operations". 2025 is a year in which not only will we feel a further increase in interest and interest in asset building for our customers due to changes in the world with interest rates, but also the importance of security measures will be questioned in the securities industry. In such an environment, Rakuten Securities has been working more than ever to provide products and services that solve customers' money-related concerns and issues.
In particular, in addition to services that allow customers to make more effective use of their assets, such as Rakuten Money Fund, an MRF (money reserve fund) that allows you to manage spare funds until you purchase stocks and investment trusts, and securities-backed loans that allow you to obtain funds while continuing to manage your financial products as collateral, for the first time in the industry, We have started providing new products and services that make it easy for anyone to create assets and invest, such as "Kabupitat ", which allows you to trade domestic stocks from 100 yen at a specified amount. In addition, the stock trading app "iSPEED" for smartphones is equipped with a "full board " order function that can display overall dividend information, and the asset creation app "iGrow" We have made efforts to improve customer convenience by adding functions to manage dividends, distributions, and interests, and realizing a trading and asset management environment comparable to that of a computer regardless of location or time. In addition, in order to protect customers' important assets and information, we have introduced "passkey authentication" using FIDO2, which allows you to log in securely without a password, to all. It was the first major securities company in Japan.
As a result, in November 2025, the number of total securities accounts exceeded 13 million, the highest number among domestic securities companies alone (based on disclosed information), and a very large number of customers are using Rakuten Securities' services.
We believe that this award is the result of many customers evaluating their efforts so far. Rakuten Securities will not be satisfied with this evaluation, but will continue to provide high-quality services with the aim of realizing customer requests and supporting investment and asset building life, and as a "companion to asset creation", in order to maximize the financial well-being of customers, from beginners to active traders who are just starting to build assets, We will strive to expand our services to meet the needs of a wide range of customers and strive to be chosen as a "securities company that you want to have a long-term relationship with".
https://www.rakuten-sec.co.jp/web/info/info20260105-01.html
January 5, 2026
2026 Oricon Customer Satisfaction ® Ranking Net Securities Overall No. 1
Rakuten Securities Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President & CEO: Yuji Kusunoki, hereinafter referred to as "Rakuten Securities") is pleased to announce that it has won the first place overall for the fifth time in the "2026 Oricon Customer Satisfaction ® Survey Net Securities" announced by Oricon Corporation today.
The "Oricon Customer Satisfaction ® Survey Net Securities" was launched by oricon ME Co., Ltd. in 2006, and conducts a questionnaire survey for customers who are actually investing and building assets at securities companies, and 9 items are aggregated and evaluated.
In this survey, Rakuten Securities won the top evaluation in five categories: "account opening and benefits", "ease of trading", "analysis tools", "asset management", and "information provided", and won the top evaluation in all categories of "PC", "smartphone site", and "smartphone app" in all categories of "domestic stocks", "foreign stocks", and "investment trusts" by management product. As a result of winning first place in many surveyed items, we were able to win first place in the overall evaluation for the fifth time.
Rakuten Securities is working to provide an environment where all customers can use the latest services that emphasize safety more easily and at a lower cost in order to satisfy all customers based on "customer-oriented business operations". 2025 is a year in which not only will we feel a further increase in interest and interest in asset building for our customers due to changes in the world with interest rates, but also the importance of security measures will be questioned in the securities industry. In such an environment, Rakuten Securities has been working more than ever to provide products and services that solve customers' money-related concerns and issues.
In particular, in addition to services that allow customers to make more effective use of their assets, such as Rakuten Money Fund, an MRF (money reserve fund) that allows you to manage spare funds until you purchase stocks and investment trusts, and securities-backed loans that allow you to obtain funds while continuing to manage your financial products as collateral, for the first time in the industry, We have started providing new products and services that make it easy for anyone to create assets and invest, such as "Kabupitat ", which allows you to trade domestic stocks from 100 yen at a specified amount. In addition, the stock trading app "iSPEED" for smartphones is equipped with a "full board " order function that can display overall dividend information, and the asset creation app "iGrow" We have made efforts to improve customer convenience by adding functions to manage dividends, distributions, and interests, and realizing a trading and asset management environment comparable to that of a computer regardless of location or time. In addition, in order to protect customers' important assets and information, we have introduced "passkey authentication" using FIDO2, which allows you to log in securely without a password, to all. It was the first major securities company in Japan.
As a result, in November 2025, the number of total securities accounts exceeded 13 million, the highest number among domestic securities companies alone (based on disclosed information), and a very large number of customers are using Rakuten Securities' services.
We believe that this award is the result of many customers evaluating their efforts so far. Rakuten Securities will not be satisfied with this evaluation, but will continue to provide high-quality services with the aim of realizing customer requests and supporting investment and asset building life, and as a "companion to asset creation", in order to maximize the financial well-being of customers, from beginners to active traders who are just starting to build assets, We will strive to expand our services to meet the needs of a wide range of customers and strive to be chosen as a "securities company that you want to have a long-term relationship with".
https://www.rakuten-sec.co.jp/web/info/info20260105-01.html
06.01.26 23:12
#13870
Libuda
Payment services under one Payment umbrella
A varied lineup of payment services under one Payment umbrella
https://payment.rakuten.co.jp/en/our-business/
https://payment.rakuten.co.jp/en/our-business/
07.01.26 08:53
#13871
Libuda
SEO, AIO, GEO integrated analysis tool LinkSurge
Efficiently analyze brand exposure, citations in the AI era.
In addition to the latest AI models and image generation capabilities, it also has a full range of rewriting functions for existing articles.
https://jp.linkshare.com/service/...eferral&utm_campaign=20251226
Efficiently analyze brand exposure, citations in the AI era.
In addition to the latest AI models and image generation capabilities, it also has a full range of rewriting functions for existing articles.
https://jp.linkshare.com/service/...eferral&utm_campaign=20251226
07.01.26 14:44
#13872
Libuda
2026
026 brings risk of operator irrelevance: 3 strategies to fight back
By Geoff Hollingworth Chief Marketing Officer Rakuten Symphony
January 6, 2026
One of the many challenges MNOs face is irrelevance. Because it has never been easier to change carriers. And it will never be as hard as today. If all telecom operators are to thrive in the future, which we at Rakuten Symphony believe all can, then the hard work of transformation needs to be accomplished as quickly as possible. People need more reasons to stay with an MNO because they increasingly have no challenges in leaving.
The industry is facing many forces of change that MNOs must respond to. These include network upgrades according to the traditional industry G cadence, and AI that is rapidly changing the technology landscape of all businesses and industries. These forces will make traditional survival increasingly hard. Now is the time to change the game.
Will MNOs Become Irrelevant?
What do actor Ryan Reynolds and I have in common? We’re both contributing to the growing irrelevance of the telecom industry.
Let me explain.
2025 has been a difficult year for the telecom industry; a year defined by stalled growth, employment losses, financial setbacks, and a renewed corporate emphasis on building mega-networks while struggling to demonstrate the meaningful impact of AI.
But beneath the surface a deeper concern is taking shape: the risk that MNOs will gradually become irrelevant as technology innovators.
Today, it’s possible for consumers to switch carriers in minutes with no hassle right on their phone. This ability to churn seamlessly gives MVNOs unprecedented competitive power. MNOs then risk becoming little more than the utility-like wholesale providers behind those MVNO brands, carrying the same volume of traffic but receiving far lower revenue per user. The infrastructure remains expensive; the return on that investment dwindles.
Which brings me back to Ryan Reynolds and me.
We’re both taking advantage of this shift, albeit in very different ways. I switched to an MVNO earlier this year and immediately saved hundreds of dollars a year, while receiving the same, if not better, service quality and dramatically better customer support. Ryan did something similar on a much grander scale with Mint Mobile, building a successful MVNO atop T-Mobile’s network and ultimately selling it back to T-Mobile.
That transaction was notable not only for its financial outcome, but for its symbolism: the celebrity-driven MVNO innovated more quickly and resonated more deeply with consumers than the underlying operator, which also laid off more than 4,000 people in 2025.
In other words, we both benefited—but at the operator’s expense. And unless things change, millions more customers will follow the same path.
2026 Keys to Telecom Success
The question for operators now is simple but urgent: how can the industry begin turning this situation around? The challenges are structural and multi-layered, but they are not insurmountable.
However, doing nothing is no longer an option. Below are several areas where operators can meaningfully influence their trajectory in 2026 and reclaim relevance in the broader digital ecosystem.
Rethink Emerging Markets
One area where operators still have room to lead is in emerging markets. Recent years have shown that fixed wireless access (FWA) has been a good service offering for operators. In places where fiber is slow or expensive to roll out, FWA has become a fast path to broadband competition and subscriber growth. Operators that doubled down early now enjoy new revenue streams. It is good to note that FWA is still a connectivity service which MNOs know how to sell. So, while it’s innovative, it’s also not much of a stretch.
Private 5G networks and edge cloud services represent even greater long-term potential. Enterprises in manufacturing, logistics, mining, and energy increasingly seek low-latency, high-reliability networks tailored to their operational needs. The market has been slow but is now being unlocked beyond the specialized hard-to-deliver environments such as mines and ports. The secret to success is commoditization so the market offers Wi-Fi level operational simplicity with Wi-Fi level pricing.
If operators embrace these enterprise and industrial markets with purpose-built offerings, rather than treating them as adjacent experiments, 2026 could mark the beginning of a sustainable new revenue model.
Rethink Open RAN as a Tool for Customizable Solutions
Open RAN is an industry success and at the same time is irrelevant. How can these both be true? The supplier base has not expanded, some say it is smaller, and Rakuten Mobile is one of the few new success stories.
The lack of true progress in adopting industry-wide open approaches comes down to the lack of understanding that this was an operational automation transformation first, and an open radio approach second. Open RAN is far from irrelevant outside the staid macro network however.
It is enabling completely different approaches, topologies and combinations in the markets for private networks, neutral hosts, and shared infrastructure offerings, where different mesh designs and hosting models can radically change the costs and lead times for deliveries. 80% of traffic is indoor and AI is being used to increase localized requirements even if its growth is not strong in macro networks. The growth of these deployments will impact macro networks. The future will refer to now as the “peak macro” era.
And in this reality, Open RAN should be viewed as a platform for continuous evolution—one that allows operators to adopt new functionality at a pace closer to cloud-native software companies. By embracing openness, operators gain the ability to assemble customizable system designs that mix and match capabilities, optimize performance, or selectively integrate innovations from specialized suppliers.
On the radio side, in a landscape where tech companies are iterating faster than ever, Open RAN is one of the few levers that could fundamentally shift how operators compete. But it requires moving beyond the narrow cost narrative and embracing openness as the foundation for renewed innovation.
Score Easy AI Wins Right Now
Telecom AI is another area in dire need of recalibration. The hype surrounding transformative AI use cases, many of which require massive data center investments, has overshadowed the practical, near-term opportunities operators can tap immediately.
These large-scale projects tend to be expensive, complex, and slow to deliver measurable value, creating disappointment and reinforcing the industry’s reputation for long, costly technology cycles.
AI can help telecom make sure the basics are fixed:
Quality consistent customer and network data, available when needed.
Data streaming, collection, management.
Data governance and accessibility as a platform.
We know how to do this in Rakuten, it is required for all our 70+ businesses. Telecom is no different.
In parallel, there are real opportunities for targeted AI initiatives such as back-office automation, field service support, fraud detection, customer care enhancements, and network planning optimization. These initiatives can deliver meaningful cost savings and service improvements without requiring the full build-out of advanced generative AI capabilities.
There’s a lot of benefit to starting with high-impact, low-risk use cases that build momentum and confidence before expanding into larger, more transformative domains.
A Moment of Truth for 2026
In recent months, industry chatter has increasingly drifted toward 6G as the next big solution to the industry’s financial and strategic challenges. But history provides little support for that hope. The transitions from 4G to 5G failed to deliver the step-change in operator economics that many expected, and there’s no compelling reason to believe 6G will be any different.
That is why operators cannot rely on 6G as salvation. Instead, they must confront the structural issues surfaced during 2025 and make bold choices in 2026. The path forward lies in rethinking market opportunities, embracing openness, and pursuing pragmatic AI strategies, not waiting for another generation of wireless technology to magically reset the playing field.
2026 is a pivotal year. And unless operators act now (I say this every year), MNO irrelevance will continue to grow, not because of actors or opportunistic consumers, but because the industry failed to redefine its place in the digital economy when the opportunity was right in front of it.
https://symphony.rakuten.com/blog/...vance-3-strategies-to-fight-back
By Geoff Hollingworth Chief Marketing Officer Rakuten Symphony
January 6, 2026
One of the many challenges MNOs face is irrelevance. Because it has never been easier to change carriers. And it will never be as hard as today. If all telecom operators are to thrive in the future, which we at Rakuten Symphony believe all can, then the hard work of transformation needs to be accomplished as quickly as possible. People need more reasons to stay with an MNO because they increasingly have no challenges in leaving.
The industry is facing many forces of change that MNOs must respond to. These include network upgrades according to the traditional industry G cadence, and AI that is rapidly changing the technology landscape of all businesses and industries. These forces will make traditional survival increasingly hard. Now is the time to change the game.
Will MNOs Become Irrelevant?
What do actor Ryan Reynolds and I have in common? We’re both contributing to the growing irrelevance of the telecom industry.
Let me explain.
2025 has been a difficult year for the telecom industry; a year defined by stalled growth, employment losses, financial setbacks, and a renewed corporate emphasis on building mega-networks while struggling to demonstrate the meaningful impact of AI.
But beneath the surface a deeper concern is taking shape: the risk that MNOs will gradually become irrelevant as technology innovators.
Today, it’s possible for consumers to switch carriers in minutes with no hassle right on their phone. This ability to churn seamlessly gives MVNOs unprecedented competitive power. MNOs then risk becoming little more than the utility-like wholesale providers behind those MVNO brands, carrying the same volume of traffic but receiving far lower revenue per user. The infrastructure remains expensive; the return on that investment dwindles.
Which brings me back to Ryan Reynolds and me.
We’re both taking advantage of this shift, albeit in very different ways. I switched to an MVNO earlier this year and immediately saved hundreds of dollars a year, while receiving the same, if not better, service quality and dramatically better customer support. Ryan did something similar on a much grander scale with Mint Mobile, building a successful MVNO atop T-Mobile’s network and ultimately selling it back to T-Mobile.
That transaction was notable not only for its financial outcome, but for its symbolism: the celebrity-driven MVNO innovated more quickly and resonated more deeply with consumers than the underlying operator, which also laid off more than 4,000 people in 2025.
In other words, we both benefited—but at the operator’s expense. And unless things change, millions more customers will follow the same path.
2026 Keys to Telecom Success
The question for operators now is simple but urgent: how can the industry begin turning this situation around? The challenges are structural and multi-layered, but they are not insurmountable.
However, doing nothing is no longer an option. Below are several areas where operators can meaningfully influence their trajectory in 2026 and reclaim relevance in the broader digital ecosystem.
Rethink Emerging Markets
One area where operators still have room to lead is in emerging markets. Recent years have shown that fixed wireless access (FWA) has been a good service offering for operators. In places where fiber is slow or expensive to roll out, FWA has become a fast path to broadband competition and subscriber growth. Operators that doubled down early now enjoy new revenue streams. It is good to note that FWA is still a connectivity service which MNOs know how to sell. So, while it’s innovative, it’s also not much of a stretch.
Private 5G networks and edge cloud services represent even greater long-term potential. Enterprises in manufacturing, logistics, mining, and energy increasingly seek low-latency, high-reliability networks tailored to their operational needs. The market has been slow but is now being unlocked beyond the specialized hard-to-deliver environments such as mines and ports. The secret to success is commoditization so the market offers Wi-Fi level operational simplicity with Wi-Fi level pricing.
If operators embrace these enterprise and industrial markets with purpose-built offerings, rather than treating them as adjacent experiments, 2026 could mark the beginning of a sustainable new revenue model.
Rethink Open RAN as a Tool for Customizable Solutions
Open RAN is an industry success and at the same time is irrelevant. How can these both be true? The supplier base has not expanded, some say it is smaller, and Rakuten Mobile is one of the few new success stories.
The lack of true progress in adopting industry-wide open approaches comes down to the lack of understanding that this was an operational automation transformation first, and an open radio approach second. Open RAN is far from irrelevant outside the staid macro network however.
It is enabling completely different approaches, topologies and combinations in the markets for private networks, neutral hosts, and shared infrastructure offerings, where different mesh designs and hosting models can radically change the costs and lead times for deliveries. 80% of traffic is indoor and AI is being used to increase localized requirements even if its growth is not strong in macro networks. The growth of these deployments will impact macro networks. The future will refer to now as the “peak macro” era.
And in this reality, Open RAN should be viewed as a platform for continuous evolution—one that allows operators to adopt new functionality at a pace closer to cloud-native software companies. By embracing openness, operators gain the ability to assemble customizable system designs that mix and match capabilities, optimize performance, or selectively integrate innovations from specialized suppliers.
On the radio side, in a landscape where tech companies are iterating faster than ever, Open RAN is one of the few levers that could fundamentally shift how operators compete. But it requires moving beyond the narrow cost narrative and embracing openness as the foundation for renewed innovation.
Score Easy AI Wins Right Now
Telecom AI is another area in dire need of recalibration. The hype surrounding transformative AI use cases, many of which require massive data center investments, has overshadowed the practical, near-term opportunities operators can tap immediately.
These large-scale projects tend to be expensive, complex, and slow to deliver measurable value, creating disappointment and reinforcing the industry’s reputation for long, costly technology cycles.
AI can help telecom make sure the basics are fixed:
Quality consistent customer and network data, available when needed.
Data streaming, collection, management.
Data governance and accessibility as a platform.
We know how to do this in Rakuten, it is required for all our 70+ businesses. Telecom is no different.
In parallel, there are real opportunities for targeted AI initiatives such as back-office automation, field service support, fraud detection, customer care enhancements, and network planning optimization. These initiatives can deliver meaningful cost savings and service improvements without requiring the full build-out of advanced generative AI capabilities.
There’s a lot of benefit to starting with high-impact, low-risk use cases that build momentum and confidence before expanding into larger, more transformative domains.
A Moment of Truth for 2026
In recent months, industry chatter has increasingly drifted toward 6G as the next big solution to the industry’s financial and strategic challenges. But history provides little support for that hope. The transitions from 4G to 5G failed to deliver the step-change in operator economics that many expected, and there’s no compelling reason to believe 6G will be any different.
That is why operators cannot rely on 6G as salvation. Instead, they must confront the structural issues surfaced during 2025 and make bold choices in 2026. The path forward lies in rethinking market opportunities, embracing openness, and pursuing pragmatic AI strategies, not waiting for another generation of wireless technology to magically reset the playing field.
2026 is a pivotal year. And unless operators act now (I say this every year), MNO irrelevance will continue to grow, not because of actors or opportunistic consumers, but because the industry failed to redefine its place in the digital economy when the opportunity was right in front of it.
https://symphony.rakuten.com/blog/...vance-3-strategies-to-fight-back
07.01.26 18:22
#13873
Libuda
LinkSurge visualizes and optimizes impact of AI
LinkSurge visualizes and optimizes the impact of AI search on your website
Solving the problems of companies in the AI search era is "LinkSurge", an integrated analysis tool for SEO/AIO/GEO introduced by Link Share Japan. It was jointly developed with Benji, which develops AI tools and develops web media businesses, and began offering it in November 2025.
LinkSurge is a service developed and operated by Benji, and LinkShare Japan will be in charge of following up on the implementation and listening to hearings on functional improvements as a sales point.
There are four main functions of LinkSurge. One is the traditional SEO analysis feature. With basic functions such as rank measurement, keyword suggestion, competitor analysis, and backlink analysis, you can understand which keywords your website is exposed for and where it is compared to your competitors.
The second is the "AIO analysis function" in line with the AI search era. You can enter a specific URL to see a list of which keywords the page is quoted from in AI Overviews. "Until now, the only way to check the exposure of AI Overviews was to manually enter keywords one by one and visually look at the screen, but using LinkSurge we can automate fixed-point observations," says Kawai.
Another attraction of LinkSurge is that it shows the direction of optimization in the form of a combination of specific keywords and pages, such as "It is not currently listed in AI Overviews, but if you change the structure in this way, it will be easier to be cited."
The third is the "GEO analysis function". It can analyze what prompts your domain or website are referenced in generative AI chat. It supports cross-analysis across not only ChatGPT but also multiple generative AIs such as Gemini and Claude, and implements a system that allows you to get a bird's-eye view of the citation status of each prompt and comparison with competitors on the dashboard.
After launching the offer in November 2025, LinkSurge customers said they wanted to monitor how often and in what context AI quotes their brand names and competitor names in one fell swoop. GEO's dashboard was implemented in December of the same year as a function that responded to the voice.
The last is the "AI chat function" that supports the latest generative AI models. "At the moment, we support 37 models, and we are also implementing new models such as GPT-5.1, Claude Opus 4.5, and Claude Haiku 4.5 within a few days of release," Kawai said.
A must-have solution that turns AI search into opportunity
The biggest point of LinkSurge is that it integrates SEO, AIO, and GEO measures into one tool.
The pricing plans are simple, and there are three plans that are easy to choose depending on the purpose of use regardless of the size of the company. The light plan of 11,000 yen per month (tax included, the same below) will give you 10,000 points, the standard plan of 33,000 yen will give you 32,000 points, and the premium plan of 55,000 yen will give you 53,000 points. There is no limit to the number of times you can use all LinkSurge functions, and you can use the points awarded according to the monthly fee.
https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/2512/26/news009.html
Solving the problems of companies in the AI search era is "LinkSurge", an integrated analysis tool for SEO/AIO/GEO introduced by Link Share Japan. It was jointly developed with Benji, which develops AI tools and develops web media businesses, and began offering it in November 2025.
LinkSurge is a service developed and operated by Benji, and LinkShare Japan will be in charge of following up on the implementation and listening to hearings on functional improvements as a sales point.
There are four main functions of LinkSurge. One is the traditional SEO analysis feature. With basic functions such as rank measurement, keyword suggestion, competitor analysis, and backlink analysis, you can understand which keywords your website is exposed for and where it is compared to your competitors.
The second is the "AIO analysis function" in line with the AI search era. You can enter a specific URL to see a list of which keywords the page is quoted from in AI Overviews. "Until now, the only way to check the exposure of AI Overviews was to manually enter keywords one by one and visually look at the screen, but using LinkSurge we can automate fixed-point observations," says Kawai.
Another attraction of LinkSurge is that it shows the direction of optimization in the form of a combination of specific keywords and pages, such as "It is not currently listed in AI Overviews, but if you change the structure in this way, it will be easier to be cited."
The third is the "GEO analysis function". It can analyze what prompts your domain or website are referenced in generative AI chat. It supports cross-analysis across not only ChatGPT but also multiple generative AIs such as Gemini and Claude, and implements a system that allows you to get a bird's-eye view of the citation status of each prompt and comparison with competitors on the dashboard.
After launching the offer in November 2025, LinkSurge customers said they wanted to monitor how often and in what context AI quotes their brand names and competitor names in one fell swoop. GEO's dashboard was implemented in December of the same year as a function that responded to the voice.
The last is the "AI chat function" that supports the latest generative AI models. "At the moment, we support 37 models, and we are also implementing new models such as GPT-5.1, Claude Opus 4.5, and Claude Haiku 4.5 within a few days of release," Kawai said.
A must-have solution that turns AI search into opportunity
The biggest point of LinkSurge is that it integrates SEO, AIO, and GEO measures into one tool.
The pricing plans are simple, and there are three plans that are easy to choose depending on the purpose of use regardless of the size of the company. The light plan of 11,000 yen per month (tax included, the same below) will give you 10,000 points, the standard plan of 33,000 yen will give you 32,000 points, and the premium plan of 55,000 yen will give you 53,000 points. There is no limit to the number of times you can use all LinkSurge functions, and you can use the points awarded according to the monthly fee.
https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/2512/26/news009.html
07.01.26 23:54
#13874
Libuda
A $337.98 Billion Industry by 2029
Japan B2C Ecommerce Databook Market Report: A $337.98 Billion Industry by 2029 - Rakuten, Amazon Japan, and LINE Yahoo Lead as Temu and AliExpress Increase Cross-Border Competition
Wed, January 7, 2026
The ecommerce market in Japan was expected to grow by 7.6% annually, reaching US$258.07 billion by 2025.
The ecommerce market in the country has experienced robust growth during 2020-2024, achieving a CAGR of 6.7%. This upward trajectory is expected to continue, with the market forecast to grow at a CAGR of 7% from 2025 to 2029. By the end of 2029, the ecommerce market is projected to expand from its 2024 value of US$239.75 billion to approximately US$337.98 billion.
Key Players and New Entrants
Rakuten, Amazon Japan, and Yahoo! Shopping (LINE Yahoo) remain the dominant platforms, each leveraging loyalty programmes, payments, and logistics networks. Rakuten continues to build out its logistics subsidiary to improve delivery control, while Amazon Japan expands same-day delivery and regional fulfillment hubs. LINE Yahoo, formed through the restructuring of Z Holdings and LINE Corp., has invested in platform consolidation and advertising technology.
Newer competitive pressure comes from cross-border entrants such as Temu and AliExpress, which have increased visibility in low-ticket categories. Retailers like Aeon and Ito-Yokado are expanding their ecommerce offerings, competing directly in groceries and daily essentials.
Digital Payments Adoption Accelerates Through Government and Retail Initiatives
Japan continues to transition from cash dependence toward digital payments, QR code payments (such as PayPay, Rakuten Pay, and d-Barai) and contactless cards are increasingly used in ecommerce and in-store. Industry updates from Japan's Payments Japan Association and major payments operators in 2023-2024 note strong growth in mobile payment usage.
Government policies encouraging cashless transactions, retailer adoption of unified QR standards, and large-scale loyalty ecosystems by companies like SoftBank (PayPay) and Rakuten are reinforcing usage. Broader retail digitisation, especially the unification of online and offline payment experiences, supports this shift. Merchant acceptance has also expanded across restaurants, pharmacies, and convenience stores, reducing friction for ecommerce repeat purchases.
Digital payment adoption will continue to replace cash-on-delivery, reducing operational friction for ecommerce businesses. Platforms with established payment ecosystems (Rakuten, PayPay Mall) will strengthen user lock-in. The share of seamless in-app and wallet-based payments will rise, improving checkout conversion and enabling more subscription-based ecommerce models.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/...ging-user-power-next-150000882.html
Wed, January 7, 2026
The ecommerce market in Japan was expected to grow by 7.6% annually, reaching US$258.07 billion by 2025.
The ecommerce market in the country has experienced robust growth during 2020-2024, achieving a CAGR of 6.7%. This upward trajectory is expected to continue, with the market forecast to grow at a CAGR of 7% from 2025 to 2029. By the end of 2029, the ecommerce market is projected to expand from its 2024 value of US$239.75 billion to approximately US$337.98 billion.
Key Players and New Entrants
Rakuten, Amazon Japan, and Yahoo! Shopping (LINE Yahoo) remain the dominant platforms, each leveraging loyalty programmes, payments, and logistics networks. Rakuten continues to build out its logistics subsidiary to improve delivery control, while Amazon Japan expands same-day delivery and regional fulfillment hubs. LINE Yahoo, formed through the restructuring of Z Holdings and LINE Corp., has invested in platform consolidation and advertising technology.
Newer competitive pressure comes from cross-border entrants such as Temu and AliExpress, which have increased visibility in low-ticket categories. Retailers like Aeon and Ito-Yokado are expanding their ecommerce offerings, competing directly in groceries and daily essentials.
Digital Payments Adoption Accelerates Through Government and Retail Initiatives
Japan continues to transition from cash dependence toward digital payments, QR code payments (such as PayPay, Rakuten Pay, and d-Barai) and contactless cards are increasingly used in ecommerce and in-store. Industry updates from Japan's Payments Japan Association and major payments operators in 2023-2024 note strong growth in mobile payment usage.
Government policies encouraging cashless transactions, retailer adoption of unified QR standards, and large-scale loyalty ecosystems by companies like SoftBank (PayPay) and Rakuten are reinforcing usage. Broader retail digitisation, especially the unification of online and offline payment experiences, supports this shift. Merchant acceptance has also expanded across restaurants, pharmacies, and convenience stores, reducing friction for ecommerce repeat purchases.
Digital payment adoption will continue to replace cash-on-delivery, reducing operational friction for ecommerce businesses. Platforms with established payment ecosystems (Rakuten, PayPay Mall) will strengthen user lock-in. The share of seamless in-app and wallet-based payments will rise, improving checkout conversion and enabling more subscription-based ecommerce models.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/...ging-user-power-next-150000882.html
08.01.26 12:36
#13875
Libuda
NISA is a driver for Rakuten Securities
Rakuten Securities is a popular Japanese broker for the tax-advantaged NISA (Nippon Individual Savings Account) program, which saw major reforms in 2024 creating permanent, higher-limit accounts for long-term investing in Japanese and global stocks/funds, with the 2026 update likely focusing on continued digital integration and user benefits like Rakuten Point rewards, making it a key platform for residents (including foreigners with proper visas) to access tax-free growth in Japan's market, though users need Japanese language skills or support for full functionality.
Key Aspects for 2026
New NISA System (Post-2024): Japan's NISA was revamped in 2024 with permanent, higher investment limits (up to ¥18M total) and two tax-free buckets: "Accumulation" (investment trusts) and "Growth" (stocks, ETFs).
Rakuten's Role: Rakuten Securities is a leading provider, offering seamless integration with Rakuten Points, allowing point-based investing, and providing tools for both Japanese and US stocks, notes FX News Group and InvestAsian.
User Experience: Expect continued emphasis on user-friendly interfaces (though often Japanese-language) and leveraging Rakuten Group's ecosystem for rewards and payments, says FX News Group and Jobs in Japan.
In Summary: Rakuten Securities is a top choice for accessing the new NISA in Japan for 2026, offering extensive investment options, but be prepared for a mostly Japanese-language platform.
https://www.google.com/...cwLjEuNi4yyAcvgAgA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp
Key Aspects for 2026
New NISA System (Post-2024): Japan's NISA was revamped in 2024 with permanent, higher investment limits (up to ¥18M total) and two tax-free buckets: "Accumulation" (investment trusts) and "Growth" (stocks, ETFs).
Rakuten's Role: Rakuten Securities is a leading provider, offering seamless integration with Rakuten Points, allowing point-based investing, and providing tools for both Japanese and US stocks, notes FX News Group and InvestAsian.
User Experience: Expect continued emphasis on user-friendly interfaces (though often Japanese-language) and leveraging Rakuten Group's ecosystem for rewards and payments, says FX News Group and Jobs in Japan.
In Summary: Rakuten Securities is a top choice for accessing the new NISA in Japan for 2026, offering extensive investment options, but be prepared for a mostly Japanese-language platform.
https://www.google.com/...cwLjEuNi4yyAcvgAgA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp