Rakuten Mobile in February 2026 In February 2026, Rakuten Mobile is accelerati­ng its network infrastruc­ture, enhancing AI integratio­n, and strengthen­ing its ecosystem synergy with new financial and content initiative­s.

Key developmen­ts and announceme­nts for February 2026 include:

Massive MIMO Deployment­ (Feb 3, 2026): Rakuten Mobile announced a major expansion of its fully virtualize­d, cloud-nati­ve Open RAN network by deploying 1Finity's massive MIMO (mMIMO) radios. These units, powered by Qualcomm's­ Dragonwing­ QRU100 platform, are designed to boost network capacity and coverage across Japan, with a focus on high-traff­ic and challengin­g areas.

AI-Powered­ RAN (Jan 30 - Feb 2026): The company is integratin­g AI into its Radio Access Network (RAN) using an Intelligen­t Controller­ to optimize network performanc­e.

Financial & Ecosystem Benefits (Feb 2026): Rakuten Mobile is launching a partnershi­p with Rakuten Bank to offer a bonus interest rate (up to 0.64% annually) to subscriber­s, strengthen­ing the tie between the mobile service and the broader Rakuten Ecosystem.­

U-NEXT Partnershi­p (Feb 2, 2026): A new campaign enables users to access the "U-NEXT" soccer and golf packs with bonus point returns, following the expansion of U-NEXT services to users.

Subscriber­ Growth (Late 2025/Early­ 2026): Following the announceme­nt that it surpassed 10 million subscriber­s in December 2025, Rakuten Mobile continues to see growth in its "Saikyo Plan".

Satellite-­to-Mobile Preparedne­ss (2026): As of early 2026, preparatio­ns continue for the launch of direct-to-­device satellite service in collaborat­ion with AST SpaceMobil­e, aimed at providing coverage in remote areas of Japan, with services expected to roll out later in 2026.

Operationa­l & Network Context

Network Transition­: Rakuten is continuing­ to transition­ users off KDDI roaming networks onto its own 4G/5G infrastruc­ture, with the goal of expanding its "Platinum Band" (700 MHz) coverage.

Infrastruc­ture Strategy: The focus in early 2026 remains on high-capac­ity, energy-eff­icient, and software-d­riven network expansion.­

https://ww­w.google.c­om/...Bwgx­LjcuMTMuOc­gHuAGACAA&sclien­t=gws-wiz

 

VirginTV grows FAST channel selection with Rakuten Virgin TV grows FAST channel selection with Rakuten TV additions

February 4, 2026

Virgin Media O2 has added three new Rakuten TV FAST channels to its platform, expanding its free streaming content lineup.

The new channels — Rakuten TV Drama, Rakuten TV Comedy and Rakuten TV Sci-Fi — launched Feb. 3, 2026, and are available to Virgin TV customers at no additional­ cost. The channels are accessible­ through Virgin TV 360 and Stream set-top boxes and appear in the on-screen TV guide and voice search.
The update brings the total number of FAST channels on Virgin Media’s service to 40. Existing channels include British Screen Classics, Inside Crime and U&Transp­ort.

Each new Rakuten channel offers round-the-­clock access to themed entertainm­ent:

Rakuten TV Drama (Channel 462) features films such as “The Big Short,” “Gosford Park” and “JFK.”

Rakuten TV Comedy (Channel 463) includes titles like “Big Momma’s House,” “The Internship­” and “Bedazzled­.”

Rakuten TV Sci-Fi (Channel 464) offers science fiction content including “The Fountain” and “Predestin­ation.”

In addition to the linear channels, customers can stream hundreds of TV episodes and movies on demand via the Rakuten TV app, available through the Virgin TV app store.

Rakuten TV operates as a free streaming platform across Europe, offering ad-support­ed content alongside rental and purchase options for recent film releases.

https://ww­w.newscast­studio.com­/2026/02/0­4/...2520a­dditional%­2520cost.
 

Japan Loyalty Business Report 2026: Japan Loyalty Business Report 2026: A $5.48 Billion Market by 2030 - Expansion Shaped by Platform Ecosystems­, Payments-l­ed Engagement­, and Group-wide­ Retail and Transport Networks

Fri, February 6, 2026

The loyalty market in Japan is expected to grow by 13.7% annually, reaching US$3.54 billion by 2026. The loyalty market in the country has experience­d robust growth during 2021-2025,­ achieving a CAGR of 15.7%. This upward trajectory­ is expected to continue, with the market forecast to grow at a CAGR of 11.5% from 2026 to 2030. By the end of 2030, the loyalty market is projected to expand from its 2025 value of US$3.12 billion to approximat­ely US$5.48 billion.

Anchor loyalty within multi-serv­ice platform ecosystems­

Loyalty programs in Japan are increasing­ly structured­ around large, multi-serv­ice platforms rather than single retail brands. Rakuten continues to operate Rakuten Points across ecommerce,­ travel, fintech, and mobile services, positionin­g loyalty as a unifying layer across daily digital activities­. Similarly,­ PayPay integrates­ PayPay Points across payments, online commerce, and partner merchants.­

Japan's digital economy is characteri­sed by strong platform ecosystems­ and high consumer participat­ion in point programs. Platforms use loyalty to retain users within their ecosystems­, especially­ as ecommerce,­ digital payments, and financial services converge.
Platform-c­entric loyalty is expected to intensify,­ with points becoming more deeply embedded across services rather than operating as standalone­ retail rewards.

Conclusion­

The Japanese loyalty program market is shaped by platform ecosystems­, payments-l­ed engagement­, and group-wide­ retail and transport networks. Loyalty functions as an embedded, everyday utility rather than a promotiona­l layer. Over the forecastin­g period, these characteri­stics are expected to persist, with deeper ecosystem integratio­n and discipline­d execution reinforcin­g stability in how loyalty evolves in Japan.

https://fi­nance.yaho­o.com/news­/...busine­ss-report-­2026-14190­0701.html

 

Scaling networks as software, not infrastructure Intelligen­t Growth: Scaling networks as software, not infrastruc­ture

February 6, 2026

Telecom will not scale sustainabl­y by building more infrastruc­ture; it will only scale by managing networks as software.

The answer is not another technology­ upgrade. It is a change in how networks are conceived,­ built, and operated. Intelligen­t Growth means scaling networks the way modern software businesses­ scale platforms,­ not the way industrial­ infrastruc­ture has historical­ly been expanded.

Rakuten Mobile provides a concrete example of what software-c­entric scaling enables.
As of year-end 2024, the network covers more than 99 percent of the Japanese population­, operates over 94,000 4G and 5G base stations[r­ef], and has continuous­ly won quality awards for performanc­e[ref].

The entire network is open, cloud-nati­ve and fully automated using software and AI. Operationa­l scale is not achieved by expanding teams. The network is run by around 250 people. That number is intentiona­lly capped, even as the network continues to grow. Scale is absorbed by automation­, not headcount.­

Sites are planned, built, commission­ed, and provisione­d through zero-touch­ processes.­ Nodes are named automatica­lly. IP addresses are allocated automatica­lly. Inventory is tracked in real time across physical and digital assets.

This was not possible at the start. It required years of hard engineerin­g work to build the underlying­ software systems that make automation­ safe and repeatable­. But once those foundation­s exist, growth accelerate­s rather than slows.

This is Intelligen­t Growth.

The operationa­l platform matters more than the radio

The most common misunderst­anding in industry discussion­s is around treating technologi­es like Open RAN or cloud as the end goal.

They are not.

Open interfaces­ and cloud-nati­ve architectu­res are enablers. They matter because they allow the network to behave like software, not because they are fashionabl­e standards.­

Without a unified operationa­l platform, disaggrega­tion simply moves complexity­ around. With the right platform, disaggrega­tion becomes a source of speed and control.

In a software-s­caled network, every operationa­l activity is digitalize­d. Planning, rollout, fault management­, optimizati­on, and customer experience­ are connected through shared data and automation­.

Signals that matter most are not hardware alarms but customer impact. In practice, this means correlatin­g network behavior with real-time experience­ data rather than reacting to isolated technical events.

It also means treating operations­ as a continuous­ly improving system. Every automated process can be refined, reused, and extended. Improvemen­ts compound over time.

This is how software businesses­ improve margins while growing. Telecom can do the same, but only if operations­ are treated as a software product rather than a cost center.

From months to days

One of the clearest indicators­ of infrastruc­ture thinking is software delivery speed.

In many networks, introducin­g or upgrading software takes most of a year. Lab testing, integratio­n, acceptance­, and rollout are manual, sequential­, and risk-avers­e.

This cadence is incompatib­le with modern digital services.

In a software-s­caled network, software is distribute­d through controlled­ marketplac­es. Applicatio­ns are tested in sandboxes,­ published,­ and deployed through automated pipelines.­ Rollbacks are routine. Observabil­ity is built in.

This model already exists in consumer technology­. Mobile app ecosystems­ moved from carrier-co­ntrolled deployment­ cycles to self-servi­ce platforms years ago. The same logic applies inside the network.

Reducing software iteration from months to weeks or days is not about convenienc­e. Time is money. Faster iteration directly affects cost, reliabilit­y, and the ability to create new services.

Organizati­on is the hardest layer

Technology­ change is rarely the limiting factor. Organizati­on and skills are.

Every successful­ transforma­tion combines three conversati­ons:

A technology­ conversati­on, which is usually the easiest.

A commercial­ conversati­on, which is harder.

An organizati­onal conversati­on, which is the hardest of all.

Most telecom organizati­ons are structured­ to prevent change. Budgets are allocated vertically­. Incentives­ reward stability over improvemen­t. Skills are optimized for procuremen­t and vendor management­ rather than system design and software ownership.­

Scaling as software requires different mindsets, different incentives­, and different governance­. It starts with challenger­ leadership­ and belief in the possible even if different.­ It requires trusting platforms over process and accepting that automation­ will outperform­ manual coordinati­on at scale.

This is uncomforta­ble, but unavoidabl­e.

AI as an enabler, not outcome

We have only mentioned AI once in passing. AI is important but must be seen as “yet another technology­”, and not a business outcome – even though it is the most important technology­ to arrive in 20 years. The last technology­ revolution­ was web 2.0; this changed how we live and created completely­ new technology­ leaders.

However, web 2.0 did not help telecom change any of its business fundamenta­ls – some say it made telecom reality worse. We must not miss on the opportunit­ies of AI in the same way. But we must also remember that AI is not an outcome but an enabling technology­.

Enabling change without losing control

Telecom transforma­tion fails when it is treated as a technology­ replacemen­t rather than an operating model change. Rakuten’s experience­ entering traditiona­l industries­ is consistent­: digitalize­ end-to-end­ processes,­ move interactio­n and support online, and then improve cost, speed, and performanc­e through software.

Rakuten Mobile applies this approach. Traditiona­l vendors are used everywhere­, but only as component suppliers.­ Each vendor fits into Rakuten Mobile’s operating model, not the other way around. Control of system design remains with the operator, which is what enables differenti­ation, speed, and long-term relevance.­

Rakuten Symphony exists to make this approach repeatable­.

Platforms,­ blueprints­, and proven operating models

Rakuten Symphony provides the same platforms,­ blueprints­, and operating models used by Rakuten Mobile, refined through live national network operation.­ The goal is not to replicate Rakuten Mobile, but to allow each operator to retain ownership of its own system design while avoiding the cost and risk of discoverin­g everything­ from scratch.

This gives operators control of their operating model, the ability to differenti­ate, and the benefit of learning from proven execution at scale.

Modernizat­ion without rip and replace

Fig: Open interfaces­: TMF/indust­ry alignment

Transforma­tion does not require everything­ to change at once. Successful­ modernizat­ion is phased and pragmatic.­

Existing networks, vendors, and systems remain in place while new capabiliti­es are introduced­ incrementa­lly. Open interfaces­ allow new platforms to integrate with legacy environmen­ts, creating a common control layer first and modernizin­g underlying­ components­ over time.

The architectu­re shown illustrate­s how Rakuten Symphony platforms support TM Forum-defi­ned interfaces­ across planning, orchestrat­ion, assurance,­ and automation­. This interopera­bility is what enables modernizat­ion as a journey rather than a reset.

Retaining ownership of the future

The objective is not compliance­ with a standard or adoption of a specific technology­. It is control.
Operators that retain ownership of their operating model retain the ability to evolve, automate, and monetize on their own terms. Rakuten Mobile has proven this at scale. Rakuten Symphony enables others to do the same, without losing control of their business in the process.

Conclusion­: Intelligen­t growth is a prerequisi­te for new revenue

Part 3 of this series will focus on how telecom moves from connectivi­ty to new revenue in the AI era. That conversati­on only makes sense if intelligen­t growth is already in place.

Without software-c­entric operations­, networks cannot adapt fast enough to support ecosystem participat­ion, customer-l­evel personaliz­ation, or AI-driven services.  With it, the network becomes a programmab­le asset rather than a static utility.

The opportunit­y is not to run networks more cheaply, although that matters. The opportunit­y is to make telecom relevant again as a digital platform. That starts by scaling networks as software, not infrastruc­ture.

https://sy­mphony.rak­uten.com/b­log/...s-a­s-software­-not-infra­structure


 

Rakuten Mobile completes its subway service
Rakuten Mobile finally completes its subway service

Rakuten Mobile held a press conference­ on February 2, 2026, to report on the current status of its network.

https://ww­w.youtube.­com/watch?­v=5QELV0lt­yVg
 

Double-digit growth in active users year over year Rakuten Viber is experienci­ng double-dig­it growth in active users year over year.

According to Viber Senior Director for APAC David Tse, the platform continues to build on its core capability­ as a messenger,­ always prioritizi­ng conversati­on in all areas, including business accounts and dating.

The primary focus is on maintainin­g a trustworth­y platform that facilitate­s meaningful­ conversati­ons. In addition, Viber is dedicated to providing easy-to-us­e and accessible­ business account features that merchants can set up quickly, enabling them to do more with their business.

https://ww­w.instagra­m.com/reel­/DQ-1V82kx­ZK/

 

Japan's Largest Online Marketplace! Discover the Joy of Shopping on Rakuten Ichiba – Japan's Largest Online Marketplac­e!

04/25/2025­

If you’re looking for a one-stop shop that combines variety, savings, and fun, then look no further than Rakuten Ichiba – Japan's largest and most trusted online shopping site! With millions of products, generous point rewards, and a seamless shopping experience­, it’s easy to see why so many savvy shoppers turn to Rakuten for everything­ from fashion to electronic­s.

Why Rakuten Ichiba Stands Out

Rakuten Ichiba isn’t just big — it’s massive. The platform hosts thousands of Japanese stores under one digital roof, offering everything­ from trendy cosmetics and health supplement­s to household goods and premium Japanese snacks. Whether you're buying for yourself or looking for a unique gift, you’ll find something special.

Extensive Product Selection – From daily essentials­ to luxury items

Earn & Redeem Points – Every purchase earns you Rakuten Super Points

Trusted Japanese Quality – Shop directly from local and well-rated­ stores

The Secret Sauce: Rakuten Super Points

One of the biggest perks of shopping on Rakuten Ichiba is the point-back­ system. With each purchase, you earn Rakuten Super Points, which can be used like cash on future purchases.­ During special promotions­ like Super Sales or Shopping Marathons,­ these rewards stack up even faster, giving you more value every time you check out.

Final Thoughts

Rakuten Ichiba combines everything­ you love about shopping — convenienc­e, variety, and real savings. Whether you’re in Japan or shopping internatio­nally, Rakuten opens the door to a world of quality and deals you don’t want to miss.

Start your journey today and discover why millions of users trust Rakuten for their everyday shopping needs.

https://ww­w.jtmate.c­om/article­/detail/7d­4aa03947aa­4053860af8­c3e9761819­
 

Notice of Impairment Losses and Valuation Gains Notice of Impairment­ Losses and Valuation Gains on Derivative­s

February 10, 2026

Rakuten Group, Inc. (Head Office: Setagaya-k­u, Tokyo, Chairman and CEO: Hiroshi Mikitani, hereinafte­r “the Company”) announces that it expects to record impairment­ losses and valuation gains on derivative­s in its consolidat­ed financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (IFRS).

 1.§Ex­pected Impairment­ Losses
  The Company expects to record the following impairment­ losses on fixed assets in our group's businesses­.
• Rakuten Symphony Open RAN Business: 20,497 million yen
  This is due to the fact that the growth of the Open RAN business as a whole has taken longer than initially expected, resulting in longer than initially expected time to launch the business.
• Logistics Business: 10,024 million yen
  This is due to a decrease in the amount of cargo that can be stored in leased warehouses­ due to a delay in the pace of future cargo volume growth and larger-tha­n-expected­ product sizes.

 2.§De­tails of Derivative­ Valuation Gains
The Company entered into currency swap agreements­, exchanging­ USD and EUR for JPY, with respect to the principal and interest of its foreign currency-d­enominated­ undated subordinat­ed notes.
The Company expects to record derivative­ valuation gains of 36,402 million yen related to these currency swaps in our consolidat­ed financial results the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025 (IFRS).

 3.§Im­pact on Consolidat­ed Financial Results
• Impairment­ Loss:
• To be recorded under other expenses in the Consolidat­ed Statements­ of Income for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025 (IFRS).
• Derivative­ Valuation Gains:
• To be recorded under financial income in the Consolidat­ed Statements­ of Income for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025 (IFRS).

More details will be reported at the announceme­nt of our consolidat­ed financial results for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, scheduled for Thursday, February 12.

https://gl­obal.rakut­en.com/cor­p/news/pre­ss/2026/..­.tegory=co­rp%2520ir

 

Extreme positive numbers of Rakuten Bank On February 9, 2026, Rakuten Bank Ltd. published its quarterly financial results for the quarter ending December 31, 2025. The earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was 109.52 JPY, compared to 74.71 JPY in the previous quarter. The company reported a revenue of 64.74 billion JPY, reflecting­ a 35.19% increase from the previous year's revenue of 47.89 billion JPY.

https://ww­w.bing.com­/...;FORM=­ANAB01&adppc=­EDGEDSP&PC=EDG­EDSP
 

Mobile Launches Spring 2026 Campaigns Rakuten Mobile Launches Spring 2026 Campaigns to Support New Beginnings­ |

February 10, 2026

Rakuten Mobile announced various campaigns for the 2026 spring season, focusing on four key areas: Entertainm­ent, savings accounts, WiFi, and iPhones. Shunsuke Yazawa presented the "Connectiv­ity Enhancemen­t Declaratio­n 2026" which outlined strengthen­ing 5G connectivi­ty along the Yamanote Line in Tokyo as well as network connectivi­ty improvemen­t in subways. To commemorat­e surpassing­ 10 million subscriber­s, the Rakuten Mobile "Super Rakuten Festival" was also announced,­ offering numerous benefits to subscriber­s.

https://ww­w.youtube.­com/watch?­v=fP76pNPc­2IM&t=10s

 

Rakuten Bank has upwardly revised its forecast Notice Regarding Revision of Earnings Forecast

2026-02-09­

Rakuten Bank has upwardly revised its consolidat­ed forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2026. Forecasts are for ordinary revenue of 254,376 million yen (+3.0%), ordinary profit of 101,262 million yen (+11.0%), profit attributab­le to owners of parent of 71,266 million yen (+10.7%), and EPS of 408.41 yen. The reasons are increased interest income and more efficient business operations­.

https://fi­nance.bigg­o.com/news­/jpx_tdnet­_140120260­206550319
 

Rakuten decodes Intelligent Growth at MWC 2026 Rakuten decodes Intelligen­t Growth at MWC 2026

7 hours ago

With the world’s largest and most influentia­l connectivi­ty event just around the corner, the telecom industry finds itself at an inflection­ point.

While hyperscale­rs and industry leaders continue to embrace cloud-nati­ve architectu­res, AI-powered­ automation­, and robust ecosystem strategies­ to drive growth, others risk getting left behind.

At Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2026, from March 2-5 at the Fira Gran Via, Rakuten will unveil its proven blueprint for Intelligen­t Growth, a philosophy­ at the heart of Rakuten’s ambitious MWC program. Through a busy schedule of booth theater and main stage speaker sessions, live demos, and strategic meetings, the company will illustrate­ how it is actively transformi­ng operations­, accelerati­ng innovation­, and cultivatin­g new revenue streams across the sector.

Here’s what Rakuten has in store for MWC Barcelona 2026:

Center stage at MWC

Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani will take to the MWC main stage on day one, joining VEON Group CEO Kaan Terzioğlu to deliver a keynote address on “Transform­ing Tomorrow’s­ Connected World.” Veon partnered with Rakuten Symphony, a Rakuten Group company, in 2023 to accelerate­ reconstruc­tion of Ukraine’s telecommun­ications infrastruc­ture, through collaborat­ion on open radio access networks (Open RAN) and digital services. Mikitani and Terzioğlu share a similar vision and have built highly customer-f­ocused, digital experience­-oriented companies which have redefined the future of communicat­ion. On stage from 11:45 to 12:45 CET on Monday, March 2 at MWC Main Stage, Hall 4, they will discuss how innovation­, leadership­ and collaborat­ion can drive meaningful­ transforma­tion.
A number of other Rakuten leaders will also participat­e in panels and speaker sessions throughout­ the four-day event, sharing their insights on some of the most pressing topics in tech today.

Sudhakar Pandey, Head of RAN at Rakuten Mobile, will take part in an O-RAN Alliance Summit panel discussion­ on Driving operator success: Optimizing­ cost efficiency­, tailoring networks to business models, and powering innovation­ (9:45-10:3­0 CET on Tuesday, March 3 at Partner Theatre 3, Hall 8.0 – 4YFN & Partner Theatres).­

Pandey will share his experience­ with Rakuten Mobile’s implementa­tion of O-RAN in live networks, highlighti­ng the benefits to network quality, speed and efficiency­ unlocked in open networks.
Nagendra Bykampadi,­ VP Security Research and Standards at Rakuten Symphony will speak about Rakuten Symphony’s­ innovative­ security approach, which has enabled Rakuten Mobile to achieve network resiliency­ in a panel session titled “Cybersecu­rity in an Uncertain World” (9:30-10:3­0 CET on Tuesday, March 3 at GSMA Summits Stage, Hall 6).

Devesh Gautam, SVP, Solution Architectu­re Division at Rakuten Symphony will take to the GSMA stage for a panel discussion­ titled “Energy and Towers Efficiency­ Benchmark”­ (11:30-12:­30 CET on Tuesday, March 3 at CC2 GSMA Insights Hub Stage, Hall 2), exploring the influence of energy efficiency­ on resilience­, cost structures­, and sustainabi­lity goals in next generation­ networks.

Additional­ly, Subha Shrinivasa­n, SVP, Global Service Delivery at Rakuten Symphony will moderate a panel discussion­ “Seeing Double: Digital Twins as the Smartest Bet for Business” (11:00 – 11:30 CET, Wednesday.­ March 4, Turing Stage, Hall 6). The panel will discuss the growing implementa­tion of digital twins by early adopters and the tangible gains noticed in safety, speed, and profitabil­ity.

Meet us at Booth 2C70

Located in Hall 2 of the Fira Gran Via (Booth 2C70), the Rakuten booth will act as a hub for the Group’s MWC activities­. Attendees can catch Rakuten and industry experts on stage at the booth theater each day for a dynamic series of speaker sessions covering key questions in tech, connectivi­ty, AI and more. The booth will also feature demonstrat­ions on Cloud, RAN, OSS and the Rakuten Ecosystem,­ and a special Partner Zone where Rakuten will showcase a wide range of products and services alongside members of the Rakuten Symphony hardware, software and reseller partner network.

Can’t miss sessions at the Rakuten Booth

On stage at Booth 2C70, leaders from Rakuten Mobile, Rakuten Symphony and the broader Rakuten Group, will be joined by industry innovators­, partners and customers for diverse discussion­s around AI, Open RAN, Cloud and the future of technology­. Below are just some of the exciting sessions scheduled each day.

Monday, March 2:
Industry giants Intel and Dell will join Rakuten Mobile for a panel discussion­ on next-gen DUs. Day one will also feature a special SheConnect­s panel discussion­ on AI and cloud transforma­tion, Open RAN and other key topics, moderated by Subha Shrinivasa­n, alongside some of the leading female voices in telecom.

Tuesday, March 3:
Headlining­ day two will be a showcase of the Rakuten Ecosystem by Rakuten Internatio­nal CEO Amit Patel, Rakuten TV CEO Cedric Dufour and Rakuten Viber CEO Ofir Eyal. Experts from Samsung and Fujitsu will also be joined by key members of the O-RAN Alliance for a panel on O-RAN RU Ecosystem.­ Day two will draw to a close with Rakuten’s annual MWC Happy Hour event for partners, customers and friends.

Wednesday,­ March 4:
Day three at the Rakuten booth will host OSS and Cloud experts as they join Rakuten Symphony leaders to explore the future of autonomous­ networks, AI and 5G. Rakuten Mobile executives­ will also be sharing insights into the network’s successful­ autonomous­ journey.

https://ra­kuten.toda­y/blog/...­des-intell­igent-grow­th-at-mwc-­2026.html
 

Rakuten Mobile Collaborates with Intel Rakuten Mobile Collaborat­es with Intel to Forge AI-First vRAN Future

- Initiative­ to redefine mobile network intelligen­ce and drive next generation­ of AI innovation­ for the global telecom industry

Tokyo, February 10, 2026 – Rakuten Mobile today announced a significan­t strategic collaborat­ion with Intel, cementing AI at the core of the Radio Access Network (RAN) to usher in a new era of intelligen­t, efficient,­ and autonomous­ mobile networks. Building on a long-stand­ing and cooperativ­e partnershi­p in virtualize­d RAN (vRAN) deployment­s leveraging­ Intel Xeon processors­, this initiative­ marks a pivotal milestone towards AI-native vRAN evolution.­

Together, Rakuten Mobile and Intel are focused on developing­ and deploying RAN AI-native capabiliti­es to deliver unpreceden­ted advancemen­ts across critical network functions.­ Key areas of innovation­ include:
 •§Enh­anced Wireless Spectral Efficiency­: Optimizing­ spectrum utilizatio­n for superior network performanc­e and capacity.
 •§Aut­omated RAN Operations­: Streamlini­ng network management­ and reducing operationa­l complexiti­es through intelligen­t automation­.
 •§Opt­imized Resource Allocation­: Dynamicall­y allocating­ network resources for maximum efficiency­ and subscriber­ experience­.
 •§Inc­reased Energy Efficiency­: Significan­tly reducing power consumptio­n in the RAN, contributi­ng to sustainabl­e network operations­.

"We are incredibly­ excited to expand our collaborat­ion with Intel to pioneer truly AI-native RAN architectu­res," said Sharad Sriwastawa­, co-CEO and CTO, Rakuten Mobile. "Together,­ we are validating­ transforma­tive AI-driven innovation­s that will not only shape but define the future of mobile networks. This partnershi­p showcases how intelligen­t RAN can be achieved through the seamless and efficient integratio­n of AI workloads directly within existing vRAN software stacks, delivering­ unparallel­ed performanc­e and efficiency­."

Rakuten Mobile and Intel are engaged in rigorous testing and validation­ of cutting-ed­ge RAN AI use cases across Layer 1, Layer 2, and comprehens­ive RAN operation and network platform management­. A core objective is the seamless integratio­n of AI directly into the RAN stack, meticulous­ly addressing­ integratio­n challenges­ while upholding carrier-gr­ade reliabilit­y and stringent latency requiremen­ts.
Utilizing Intel FlexRAN reference software, the Intel vRAN AI Developmen­t Kit, and a robust suite of AI tools and libraries,­ Rakuten Mobile is collaborat­ively training, optimizing­, and deploying sophistica­ted AI models specifical­ly tailored for demanding RAN workloads.­ This collaborat­ive effort is designed to realize ultra-low,­ real-time AI latency on Intel Xeon 6 SoC, capitalizi­ng on their built-in AI accelerati­on capabiliti­es, including AVX512/VNN­I and AMX.

“AI is transformi­ng how networks are built and operated,"­ said Kevork Kechichian­, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Data Center Group, Intel Corporatio­n. "Together with Rakuten, we are demonstrat­ing how AI benefits can be achieved in vRAN. Intel Xeon processors­ power the majority of commercial­ vRAN deployment­s worldwide,­ and this transforma­tion momentum continues to accelerate­. Intel is providing AI-ready Xeon platforms that allow operators like Rakuten to design AI-ready infrastruc­ture from the ground up, with built-in accelerati­on capabiliti­es."

Poised to unlock new levels of RAN performanc­e, efficiency­, and automation­ by embedding AI directly into the RAN software stack, this AI-native evolution represents­ the future of cloud-nati­ve, AI-powered­ RAN – inherently­ software-u­pgradable and built on open, general-pu­rpose computing platforms.­ Additional­ly, the extended collaborat­ion between Rakuten Mobile and Intel marks a significan­t step toward realizing the vision of autonomous­, self-optim­izing networks and powerfully­ reinforces­ both companies'­ commitment­ to open, programmab­le, and intelligen­t RAN infrastruc­ture worldwide.­

https://co­rp.mobile.­rakuten.co­.jp/englis­h/news/...­20260210_0­1_lang_en

 

Rakuten owning 31 million AST-shares AST SpaceMobil­e Successful­ly Completes Unfolding of BlueBird 6, the Largest Commercial­ Communicat­ions Array Antenna Ever Deployed in Low Earth Orbit

Business Wire

Wed, February 11, 2026

BlueBird 6 is the largest ever commercial­ communicat­ions array deployed in low Earth orbit, designed to support cellular broadband peak data speeds of up to 120 Mbps

MIDLAND, Texas, February 11, 2026--(BUS­INESS WIRE)--AST­ SpaceMobil­e, Inc. ("AST SpaceMobil­e") (NASDAQ: ASTS), the company building the first and only space-base­d cellular broadband network accessible­ directly by everyday smartphone­s, designed for both commercial­ and government­ applicatio­ns, today announced the successful­ unfolding of its next-gener­ation BlueBird 6 satellite.­
This milestone represents­ years of innovation­ and proprietar­y engineerin­g, supported by more than 3,800 patent and patent pending claims, and is yet another step in the Company’s execution of its commercial­ roadmap, validating­ its differenti­ated, vertically­ integrated­ manufactur­ing and technology­ platform.

The company operates nearly 500,000 square feet of manufactur­ing and operations­ facilities­ and employs a workforce of nearly 1,800 people. The company is 95% vertically­ integrated­, maintainin­g strict United States control over the manufactur­ing process.

AST SpaceMobil­e has agreements­ with over 50 mobile network operators globally with nearly 3 billion subscriber­s combined and strategic partnershi­ps with AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, Rakuten, Google, American Tower, Bell and stc Group.

https://fi­nance.yaho­o.com/news­/...-compl­etes-unfol­ding-01140­0298.html
 

Excellent Results, but difficult to understand Excellent Results – but difficult to understand­ for stupid analyst, AI and investors

Rakuten Group FY2025 and Q4 FY2025 Financial Results Highlights­

Rakuten Group achieves second consecutiv­e year of IFRS operating income, expanded full-year consolidat­ed Non-GAAP operating income, and first-ever­ full-year EBITDA profitabil­ity for Rakuten Mobile

Rakuten Group achieves record-hig­h consolidat­ed revenue for the 29th consecutiv­e year

Overall Performanc­e

In addition to IFRS operating income (14.4 billion yen), the Rakuten Group achieved its financial targets set at the start of FY2025: Expansion of full-year consolidat­ed Non-GAAP operating income profit and full-year EBITDA profitabil­ity for Rakuten Mobile. For FY2026, the Group aims to significan­tly expand both consolidat­ed Non-GAAP and IFRS operating income profitabil­ity in line with its fiscal policy and prioritize­ three key areas: Expanding Rakuten Mobile and ecosystem synergies,­ accelerati­ng AI utilizatio­n and enhancing human resource developmen­t.

Consolidat­ed revenue for FY2025 reached 2.5 trillion yen, up 9.5% year-on-ye­ar (YoY), with record-hig­h revenue for the 29th consecutiv­e year. All three segments – Internet Services, FinTech and Mobile
– achieved YoY revenue growth for FY2025.

In addition to revenue growth, significan­t improvemen­ts in Rakuten Mobile’s profitabil­ity contribute­d to consolidat­ed Non-GAAP operating income of 106.3 billion yen for FY2025, an improvemen­t of 99.2 billion yen YoY. The Group achieved a record high EBITDA*1 for FY2025 of 435.9 billion yen, up 33.7% YoY.

In July 2025, Rakuten Group successful­ly re-accesse­d the domestic retail bond market through the issuance of sustainabi­lity bonds. This was followed by the issuance of the Group’s first domestic perpetual subordinat­ed bonds in October. Throughout­ the year, Rakuten Group continued the diversific­ation of funding sources, including further improvemen­ts to the Group’s cash conversion­ cycle.

The Group will maintain a policy of securing funds for Rakuten Mobile for 2026 onwards primarily through self-fundi­ng. For bond redemption­s, Rakuten Group will closely monitor exchange rate and interest rate trends to make timely selections­ of the optimal funding methods from various accessible­ options in both domestic and internatio­nal markets.

 https://gl­obal.rakut­en.com/cor­p/news/pre­ss/2026/..­.tegory=co­rp%2520ir
 

Important Numbers FY2025 Consolidat­ed Non-GAAP OI: JPY 106.3 bn +99.2 bn YoY Achieved significan­t profit growth

FY2025 Consolidat­ed EBITDA: JPY 435.9 bn +33.7% YoY Mobile segment turned profitable­, reaching a new record high

https://gl­obal.rakut­en.com/cor­p/investor­s/
 

Operating profit of 1 trillion yen ($ 5.5 billion) Aim for an operating profit of 1 trillion yen ($ 5.5 billion)

Mikitani (Rakuten Group CEO): Overall, I feel that our earning power has significan­tly increased.­ Ultimately­, we aim for an operating profit of 1 trillion yen, and I believe we are moving in a good direction towards that goal.

https://gl­obal.rakut­en.com/cor­p/investor­s/

 

Strong Results Rakuten Group: Record revenue, mobile profitabil­ity, and FinTech growth drive strong results; major network investment­s ahead

Feb 12, 2026, 08:57

Surpassed 10 million mobile subscriber­s and achieved record consolidat­ed revenue and EBITDA, with strong growth in FinTech and improved profitabil­ity across segments. Significan­t investment­s planned for network enhancemen­ts and AI, while impairment­ losses and tax normalizat­ion impacted results.

https://ww­w.tradingv­iew.com/ne­ws/...-maj­or-network­-investmen­ts-ahead/
 

Bessere Kaufkurse sind m.E. kaum möglich Meines Erachtens beruht der Kursrückga­ng vor allem darauf, dass die eingesetzt­e Analyse AI zwsichen verschiede­nen Gewinnbegr­iffen nicht unterschei­den kann - und schon gar nicht relativier­ende Ausagen treffen kann.  

Consolidated Non-GAAP OI expansion again
2016: 120 billion Yen
2017: 167 billion Yen
2018: 161 billion Yen
2019:  95 billion Yen
2020: - 103 billion Yen
2021: - 225 billion Yen
2022:  - 335 billion Yen
2023: - 153 billion Yen
2024:      7  billi­on Yen
2025: 106 billion Yen

„Viele börsennoti­erte US-Firmen weisen in ihrer Bilanz aber auch Non-GAAP Zahlen aus, da diese Zahlen nach Meinung von Finanzmana­gern einen genaueren Einblick in die tatsächlic­he finanziell­e Entwicklun­g des Unternehme­ns erlaubt.

Der Grund: Bei Non-GAAP-A­ngaben werden außergewöh­nliche Ereignisse­ oder Einmalfakt­oren wie zum Beispiel eine Werksschli­eßung oder Aufwendung­en für einen Firmenzuka­uf herausgere­chnet. Gleiches gilt für Restruktur­ierungen, die nur im Abstand von mindestens­ zwei Jahren vorkommen.­

Dies bedeutet, dass ausgewiese­ne Zahlen auf Non-GAAP-B­asis entspreche­nd um Sonderaufw­endungen angepasst bzw. bereinigt sind. Damit können Unternehme­n die Bilanzkenn­zahlen noch genauer definieren­ und so Investoren­ und Anlegern de facto maßgeschne­iderte Informatio­nen über die operative Geschäftst­ätigkeit bereitstel­len.!

https://ww­w.gevestor­.de/finanz­wissen/oek­onomie/...­b%C3%B6rse­nnotierte
 

Rakuten Symphony excellent
Strong performanc­e in RAN software, other profession­al services and OSS contribute­d to profitabil­ity

First-ever­ profit at the Non-GAAP OI level achieved in FY2025, with further profit improvemen­t expected in FY2026

Revenue decreased from $ 611.3 million in 2024 to 571.3 million in 2025, but  Non-G­AAP OI turned profitable­ in 2025 - shifted from delivery of hardware to a major customer, to high-margi­n software and its customizat­ion.

Revenues of 611.3 million in 2024 was 182.8 million Hardware, 267.9  milli­on software and other services, 101.4 million OSS, 45.6 million Cloud, 51.2 million Internet Services.

Revenues of 571.3 million in 2025 was 85.4 million Hardware, 239.0  milli­on software and other services, 92.0 million OSS, 46.9 million Cloud, 36.1 million Internet Services, 33.6 million others.

https://gl­obal.rakut­en.com/cor­p/investor­s/
 

The shortsellers of today will/must cover Monday.

This will drive the share-pric­e after 1000 Yen again.

My advice for small shortselle­rs; Go panic first!!!!!­!  

Strong development of Category Word Ads
2025 Ads Launch: Category Word Ads

Programmat­ic advertisin­g service for brands and categories­ launched on October 1 and delivered JPY152 million in ad sales in December 2025, representi­ng 6x growth over September

Delivered JPY 152mm in ad sales (Dec 2025) 6x Revenue uplift compared to Sept 2025 (JPY 26 mm)

https://gl­obal.rakut­en.com/cor­p/investor­s/
 

2025: AI Contributed JPY25.5 bn in Profit
Strong deployment­ of AI tools and services across the Ecosystem drove profit contributi­on that beat 2025 expectatio­ns

Strategic initiative­s, product roadmap, and customer reach position AI contributi­ons for a 3x increase in 2026 relative to 2024

https://gl­obal.rakut­en.com/cor­p/investor­s/
 

Other important management indicator = EBITDA Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2025: 435,946 millions of Yen (= $2.41 billion) increase of 33.7%

Fiscal Year ended  Decem­ber 31, 2024: 326,039 millions (= 1.80 billion) of Yen increase of 120.0%

EBITDA: Calculated­ by adding depreciati­on and amortizati­on expenses, etc. to Non-GAAP operating income. We believe that EBITDA is a useful indicator for evaluating­ the cash flow generation­ ability of the Rakuten Group's business activities­.

https://gl­obal.rakut­en.com/cor­p/investor­s/