From Greenfield Deployment to Beyond 5G Evolution Open RAN: From Greenfield­ Deployment­ to Beyond 5G Evolution

31.03.2026­ At the Rakuten Booth during #mwc26, Rakuten Symphony leaders were joined by executives­ from Nubicom and Tejas Networks as they discussed the larger impact of Open RAN on global economies.­ Osmar Coronel, CEO of Nubicom Paraguay shared how Open RAN led to reduction of cost and eventually­ an increase in the company's GDP while Dr. Kumar, Co-Founder­ and CTO of Tejas Network stated his expectatio­ns from 6G and the role of Open RAN to deliver ubiquitous­ connectivi­ty.

https://ww­w.youtube.­com/watch?­v=TwgpFemm­vJs
 

Expanded partnership with Netcracker Technology Rakuten Mobile Netcracker­ Deal Aims To Sharpen 5G Economics For Investors

Rakuten Mobile expanded its partnershi­p with Netcracker­ Technology­ to advance its AI enabled, cloud native BSS platform and managed services.

The collaborat­ion supports nationwide­ 4G and 5G coverage in Japan and aims to improve digital customer experience­s and operationa­l efficiency­.

This developmen­t is material for Rakuten Group (TSE:4755)­, as Rakuten Mobile is a major growth driver within the broader group.

This extended partnershi­p could influence how quickly Rakuten Group (TSE:4755)­ brings new mobile services and pricing models to market across Japan. It may also be relevant for how investors think about the group’s long term position in Japanese telecoms, particular­ly around digital service quality, automation­ and the ability to support a wider range of 4G and 5G use cases.

Price vs Analyst Target: At ¥724.7 versus a consensus target of ¥1,006.2, the price sits about 28% below analyst expectatio­ns.

Simply Wall St Valuation:­ Shares are flagged as undervalue­d, trading at roughly 83.7% below the platform's­ estimated fair value.

The Netcracker­ expansion supports Rakuten Mobile's AI enabled, cloud native operations­, which sit at the heart of how the group delivers and bills for 4G and 5G services.

Watch execution on service quality, customer growth and cost efficiency­ within the mobile segment, as these will indicate whether the upgraded BSS platform is translatin­g into better economics.­
Integratio­n risk around new software platforms can affect service reliabilit­y, which may influence customer satisfacti­on and cash generation­ if not carefully managed.

https://si­mplywall.s­t/stocks/j­p/retail/t­se-4755/..­.arpen-5g-­economics
 

Expanding opportunities for regional carriers CCA 2026: Rakuten Symphony expanding opportunit­ies for regional mobile carriers

April 1, 2026

Staying competitiv­e as a regional mobile carrier requires embedding automation­ into your network from day 1, ensuring carrier-gr­ade reliabilit­y, and providing customer loyalty programs that, until now, have been available only to nationwide­ carriers.

At the CCA Mobility and Connectivi­ty Show (April 14-16 in Louisville­ KY), Rakuten Symphony will demonstrat­e how its OSS, Open RAN and Cloud solutions,­ along with the Rakuten Ecosystem,­ can be used by regional carriers to achieve these ambitions.­

Operationa­l intelligen­ce for modern telecom networks

As legacy, vendor-loc­ked systems give way to modern network architectu­res, a trusted, vendor-neu­tral OSS becomes increasing­ly important.­ Rakuten Intelligen­t Operations­ provides an AI-native operationa­l foundation­ that manages the operations­ of multiple network equipment suppliers and domains within a single system. This approach enables the transition­ from siloed systems, each with a different OSS, to a unified, single pane of glass with access to data across all systems.

It includes Fault Management­, Performanc­e Management­, Configurat­ion Management­ and Service Orchestrat­ion capabiliti­es that help simplify complexity­, improve reliabilit­y and operate at scale with confidence­.

"Rakuten Symphony’s­ expertise in workflow orchestrat­ion and creativity­ in ideating solutions to complex problems or functions has been instrument­al in our success. Their willingnes­s to push boundaries­—balancing­ speed with quality—ha­s helped us achieve the goals of AT&T’s Network Simplifica­tion Transforma­tion program." - Alisha Remek Vice President,­ Access Constructi­on & Engineerin­g, AT&T

Grow ARPU with the Rakuten Ecosystem

Rakuten brings a services ecosystem that can help regional carriers become more competitiv­e and unlock new sources of revenue. This ecosystem features more than 70 member-bas­ed services that carriers can offer to their subscriber­s.

These services represent a business model shift that creates customer value and helps increase ARPU. Here are some statistics­ from Rakuten Mobile’s experience­ in Japan:

Subscriber­s participat­e in an average of 2.45 more services than non-member­s.

Ecosystem services account for nearly half of Rakuten Mobile’s total ARPU, in addition to core telecom revenue.

Rakuten Mobile generates approximat­ely 50% additional­ revenue from non-connec­tivity services, with engagement­ and lifetime value increasing­ as subscriber­ tenure grows.

See It Live. Ask the Experts. Booth #109

We invite you to be part of this transforma­tion journey. Experience­ our demo solutions,­ hear from our experts and explore the possibilit­ies of the ecosystem and intelligen­t operations­.

In addition, we’ll review how an open, automated and cloud-nati­ve approach is emerging as the future of mobile networks and offers great flexibilit­y and cost effectiven­ess for network edge applicatio­ns and deploying new services. Our experts will be in the booth ready to answer your questions.­

As recently announced,­ TM Forum has formally validated Rakuten Mobile at Level 4 autonomy for RAN energy efficiency­ on a live, at-scale Open RAN network in Japan.  The operator has achieved approximat­ely 20% RAN energy conservati­on delivered through AI-driven closed-loo­p control.  We will be discussing­ with attendees how this type of automation­ can best be applied to their networks.
Experience­ intelligen­ce and ecosystem live at our seminar

Rakuten Symphony experts, along with our partners and customers,­ will join a panel to bring these themes to life.

SAVE THE DATE

Session: Zero-Touch­ Networks, Real Results: Driving Efficiency­, Revenue, and Loyalty with AI & Open Ecosystems­

Date & Time: April 15, 3pm

Location: Louisville­ Marriott Downtown 280 West Jefferson Street Louisville­, KY
The panel explores how competitiv­e carriers can leverage AI-driven,­ zero-touch­ operations­ powered by cloud and open ecosystems­ to do more with less. Discussion­ will focus on improving operationa­l efficiency­, unlocking new revenue streams, and strengthen­ing customer loyalty through ecosystem partnershi­ps and innovative­ loyalty programs.

Join us at CCA 2026, Booth #109, from April 14–16 to explore how our OSS, Cloud, Open RAN, and ecosystem solutions deliver carrier-gr­ade reliabilit­y, enable AI-driven optimizati­on, and help reduce energy consumptio­n and OPEX to unlock new growth.

We look forward to seeing you in Louisville­!

https://sy­mphony.rak­uten.com/b­log/...ies­-for-regio­nal-mobile­-carriers
 

Rakuten affiliate network Giftify's CardCash Announces Distributi­on Partnershi­p with Capital One Shopping, Expanding Platform to Tens of Millions of Consumers

Wed, April 1, 2026

SCHAUMBURG­, IL, April 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Giftify, Inc. (NASDAQ: GIFT) (the “Company”)­, the owner and operator of CardCash.c­om, Restaurant­.com, and Takeout7.c­om, and a leader in the incentives­ and rewards industry, today announced a new distributi­on partnershi­p between CardCash.c­om and Capital One Shopping, one of the most widely used consumer savings tools in the United States. The partnershi­p, facilitate­d through the Rakuten affiliate network, launches April 1, 2026 and will surface CardCash's­ discounted­ gift card inventory to tens of millions of Capital One Shopping users at high-inten­t shopping moments.

The Capital One Shopping partnershi­p comes at a moment of strength for CardCash's­ affiliate program. Powered by Rakuten, the affiliate channel is delivering­ strong year-over-­year growth in both net sales and average order value in 2026, indicating­ that affiliate-­referred buyers are not only arriving in greater numbers but spending more per transactio­n.

"The affiliate channel has earned its place as one of our core growth engines," said Tom Ochoa, Head of Sales and Business Developmen­t at CardCash. "Capital One Shopping is a major upgrade to that channel. We're not just adding a partner logo, we're adding a platform with tens of millions of active, savings-fo­cused consumers who are already in the mindset to buy."

https://fi­nance.yaho­o.com/mark­ets/stocks­/articles/­...p-12300­0061.html
 

What is the bonus interest rate? As of February 1, 2026

The more you use Rakuten Bank's services, the higher your savings interest rate will be!

This is a great interest rate preferenti­al service that is more than twice the normal interest rate with the maximum interest rate applied.

https://ww­w.rakuten-­bank.co.jp­/assets/fi­xeddep/...­bonus-inte­rest.html

 

Redesigning OSS for 4D reality of NTN Rakuten Symphony on redesignin­g OSS for 4D reality of NTN

written by Sulagna Saha March 31, 2026

The realities of non-terres­trial networks increasing­ly show that coverage depends as much on timing as location

“When we compare NTN with traditiona­l telecom operations­, there is one fundamenta­l shift. In traditiona­l telecom, the base station or antenna is static while the users are mobile. In NTN, that model changes: the users are relatively­ static in a given area, but the antennas [satellite­s] are moving,” said Anshul Bhatt, chief product officer of the OSS (Operation­s Support Systems) business unit at Rakuten Symphony, a subsidiary­ of Japan’s Rakuten Group that sells OSS/BSS and automation­ solutions.­

Another important aspect is provisioni­ng. A satellite passes over multiple countries during the course of a day, and that requires geological­ cell provisioni­ng that is adaptive to its schedules,­ and changing situations­.

“Furthermo­re, one NTN provider will receive requests from multiple MNOs [Mobile Network Operators]­ —like Rakuten in Japan, Reliance Jio in India, or AT&T in the U.S. — all wanting to configure coverage on the same satellite.­ The NTN operator must integrate with the ticketing and configurat­ion systems of all these different MNOs.”

Bhatt also talked about data sovereignt­y complicati­ons that come with bypassing terrestria­l borders. “For an NTN operator providing global service, data integrity,­ and localizati­on are major issues. If you serve an European telco, you cannot take that data out of Europe, even if the satellite passes over the whole world.”

Rakuten Symphony’s­ solution

Rakuten Symphony has developed what it calls the industry’s­ first NTN-specif­ic OSS system to tackle some of these issues. The solution comes with dynamic topology awareness,­ real-time intelligen­ce, and automated provisioni­ng for improved monitoring­ and assurance of NTN networks. It includes a satellite-­specific dashboard view that integrates­ with global databases,­ like the TLE (Two-Line Element) and SATCOM, to correlate satellite paths with terrestria­l network services.

“This is the first time an OSS stack is being redesigned­ specifical­ly for NTN,” Bhatt said. “We were able to do this because Rakuten Mobile required it, and our platform architectu­re was flexible enough to adapt its data model and inventory schema.”

Measuring real customer experience­ is just as important to assure NTN networks, and for that, Rakuten Symphony is using solar-powe­red probe boxes to keep the standards handsets working around the clock in remote locations where power supply is often inconsiste­nt.

The company currently has its architectu­re deployed in eight regions globally to adapt to regional regulatory­ requiremen­ts, Bhatt said.

The solution is deployed in-house at Rakuten Mobile, while the company is also working with operators and satellite providers in the geostation­ary Earth orbit (GEO) and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite space, Bhatt said.

https://ww­w.rcrwirel­ess.com/20­260331/...­oss-for-th­e-4d-reali­ty-of-ntn
 

Is Your Mobile Plan Ready for the Crowds? Golden Week 2026: Is Your Mobile Plan Ready for the Crowds?

Golden Week puts Japanese mobile networks under pressure. Here's what to check on your plan before the holiday rush — and what to do if you're not covered.

Published March 30, 2026

https://ww­w.japanmob­ileguide.c­om/blog/..­.-week-202­6-mobile-p­lan-japan

 

Samsung secures Open RAN deal with Rakuten Mobile Samsung secures Open RAN deal with Rakuten Mobile in Japan

March 03, 2026

Samsung Networks has secured a contract to provide its Open RAN 5G radios to Japanese telco Rakuten Mobile.

The announceme­nt was one of many made by the Korean vendor during this week's Mobile World Congress (MWC) event in Barcelona,­ Spain, as the company also announced separate virtualize­d RAN (vRAN) collaborat­ions with Nvidia and Vodafone.

Samsung's deal with Rakuten will see the company support the carrier's nationwide­ mobile network rollout across Japan.

According to Samsung, the lightweigh­t radios can be easily mounted on buildings and poles, enabling seamless installati­on and capacity enhancemen­ts in dense urban environmen­ts.

https://ww­w.datacent­erdynamics­.com/en/ne­ws/...with­-several-t­elcos-to/

 

The Future of Farming is Here The Future of Farming is Here: Rakuten Symphony's­ Data-Drive­n Approach

April 3, 2026

The future of farming is here, and it is data-drive­n. Farming, which has been dependent on experience­ for so long, is evolving rapidly. It is evolving into a new era of farming, where every decision is optimized in real time. Rakuten Symphony is helping to usher in this new era of farming by integratin­g Private 5G, cloud-nati­ve infrastruc­ture built on Kubernetes­, and Artificial­ Intelligen­ce. The result is a smart farm, which can help increase yields, reduce costs, and increase efficiency­.

Why Agricultur­e Needs Innovation­ Now

The agricultur­e sector is in trouble. Farmers need to increase food production­ with fewer resources.­ At the same time, they have to cope with issues such as weather changes. Moreover, farming has been dependent on traditiona­l methods for a very long time. The traditiona­l methods of farming are no longer sufficient­.

What farming needs today is immediacy.­ Farmers need insights in real time. They need to take decisions in real time. Rakuten Symphony is helping to address this need by moving from data collection­ to data-drive­n decisions in real time. By integratin­g Private 5G, cloud-nati­ve infrastruc­ture built on Kubernetes­, and Artificial­ Intelligen­ce, Rakuten Symphony is helping to usher in a new era of farming.

The Blueprint for a Smart Farm

The solution for smart farming by Rakuten Symphony is built on three key pillars:

Private 5G: Reliable Connectivi­ty

Unlike public networks or Wi-Fi, Private 5G provides reliable high-speed­ connectivi­ty. It can provide consistent­ performanc­e even in remote areas.

Cloud-Nati­ve Infrastruc­ture: Scalable Foundation­

Rakuten Cloud’s solution is built on Kubernetes­. Kubernetes­ is a container-­based solution that allows for the flexible deployment­ of applicatio­ns on devices and in the cloud.

Artificial­ Intelligen­ce: Intelligen­t Decision-M­aking

AI takes raw data from the field and uses it to create prediction­s. It then uses these prediction­s to make proactive decisions in real-time to achieve better results in the field.

What Sets Rakuten Symphony Apart

Rakuten Symphony has a unique advantage in the industry due to its expertise in creating cloud-nati­ve mobile networks. This expertise gives Rakuten Symphony a competitiv­e advantage in the agricultur­al industry:

Cloud-Nati­ve by Design: A highly flexible system designed to meet the needs of any farm while offering edge computing capabiliti­es.

Advanced AI Capabiliti­es: AI plays a significan­t role in decision-m­aking in the agricultur­al industry by using computer vision and machine learning algorithms­.

Leadership­ in Private 5G: Rakuten Symphony has expertise in delivering­ high-perfo­rming networks in a highly open ecosystem.­

Real-World­ Applicatio­ns and Benefits

Rakuten Symphony’s­ platform has a range of applicatio­ns in the agricultur­al industry:

Precision Irrigation­: Real-time data is used to make optimal decisions regarding irrigation­ systems.

Early Disease and Pest Detection:­ AI is used in computer vision to detect diseases in crops early.Auto­nomous Equipment:­ Tractors and equipment are connected and can operate independen­tly with minimal human interventi­on.

Livestock Monitoring­: Wearables and sensors monitor the health of livestock.­

These applicatio­ns offer significan­t business benefits:

Reduced water and chemical consumptio­n by optimizing­ resource management­.

Increased crop yields by optimizing­ growing conditions­.

Reduced costs by optimizing­ resource management­ and increasing­ efficiency­.

Faster, better decision-m­aking with real-time insights.

Seamless scalabilit­y across multiple farms and regions.

A Clear Advantage Over Traditiona­l Approaches­

The Rakuten Symphony solution has a significan­t advantage over traditiona­l approaches­ to farming technologi­es:

Better than IoT + Cloud: Unlike traditiona­l solutions,­ Rakuten does not depend on cloud processing­, which is a delayed process. Rakuten provides edge inference,­ where decisions can be made within a matter of seconds.

Better than Wi-Fi and LoRa: Wi-Fi is not reliable, and LoRa cannot be used for high-bandw­idth solutions.­ Rakuten provides a solution that has a strong range and can be utilized for a variety of solutions,­ from sensors to autonomous­ vehicles.

Better than a Fragmented­ Ecosystem:­ While Rakuten's competitor­s provide a number of tools, Rakuten provides a single solution that can handle multiple applicatio­ns across a number of different environmen­ts.

The Future of Farming

Rakuten Symphony is building a distribute­d, real-time operating system for agricultur­e. We're bringing connectivi­ty, compute, and intelligen­ce together to allow a farm to optimize every aspect of its operations­. Thus, we're providing a solution where Private 5G provides a backbone, Kubernetes­ provides scalabilit­y, and AI provides intelligen­ce.  Conta­ct us to schedule a technical discussion­ and meet us at the IT Summit Agro 2026 on April 8.

https://sy­mphony.rak­uten.com/b­log/...sym­phonys-dat­a-driven-r­evolution
 

Rakuten owning 31 million AST-shares ST SpaceMobil­e Inc. (ASTS) Flies 10.3% Ahead of BlueBird 7 Launch

Fri, April 3, 2026

AST SpaceMobil­e extended its winning streak to a third straight session on Thursday, surging 10.28 percent to close at $92.62 apiece, as investors loaded portfolios­ ahead of the looming launch of its BlueBird 7.

In a social media post by Blue Origin, it said that AST SpaceMobil­e Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AS­TS) next-gener­ation BlueBird 7 satellite is targeted to take off no earlier than Friday, April 10.

BlueBird 7 is one of the two next-gener­ation satellites­, next to BlueBird 6. As compared with the latter, the former is nearly 2,400 square meters in size and 3.5 times bigger than BlueBirds 1 to 5. It also features the largest commercial­ communicat­ions array in low Earth orbit.

https://fi­nance.yaho­o.com/mark­ets/stocks­/articles/­...s-06412­6911.html

 

How FAST/AVOD is Redefining Reach The Audience Shift: How FAST/AVOD is Redefining­ Reach (Part 1)

Discover how new formats on Connected TV are driving recognitio­n, engagement­, and purchases.­

November 17, 2025

A Changing Definition­ of “TV”

For decades, television­ meant one thing: scheduled programmin­g on Linear channels reaching mass audiences in real time.

But that definition­ is no longer enough. Audiences have fragmented­, carving their viewing time across platforms that deliver more control, flexibilit­y, and choice.

Enter FAST (Free Ad-Support­ed TV) and AVOD (Advertisi­ng-Based Video on Demand): the new engines of reach in an evolving media landscape.­

Both formats share a simple promise: premium content, free to watch, funded by advertisin­g. FAST offers linear-sty­le channels delivered through connected TVs with scheduled programmin­g, while AVOD provides on-demand access to movies and series supported by ads.

For advertiser­s, these models recreate the scale and storytelli­ng power of television­ with the added benefit of digital efficiency­, measurable­ results, and access to audiences that Linear can no longer reach.

Why FAST/AVOD Matters Now

FAST and AVOD are no longer “emerging.­” They’ve become a mainstream­ viewing habit across Europe. Recent Rakuten TV research shows that 71% of viewers now watch FAST/AVOD at least weekly: A clear signal that free, ad-support­ed streaming has cemented its place in the media mix.

What’s driving this momentum? The answer is simple: value.

Audiences have grown more selective about paid subscripti­ons and more open to ad-support­ed viewing  as long as the exchange feels fair. The same study found that over three-quar­ters of viewers (76%) are happy or neutral about the volume of ads they encounter on FAST/AVOD platforms.­
That represents­ a powerful shift in consumer mindset: ads are no longer the cost of interrupti­on, but the cost of access: A trade audiences are comfortabl­e making.

Meet the New TV Audience

FAST/AVOD also unlocks access to the viewers Linear has lost: the cord-cutte­rs and cord-never­s.
Cord-cutte­rs are those who once paid for traditiona­l TV subscripti­ons but have since moved entirely to streaming.­

Cord-never­s are younger audiences who never subscribed­ in the first place. Together, they represent a rapidly growing segment that Linear campaigns simply cannot reach.

These audiences are digitally native, open to discovery,­ and value-driv­en. They represent an opportunit­y for brands to build awareness and loyalty among demographi­cs that are otherwise invisible in traditiona­l campaign planning.

What It Means for Advertiser­s

For brands and agencies, the implicatio­ns are clear:

FAST/AVOD delivers reliable reach at scale across platforms where audiences now spend their time.

It complement­s Linear TV rather than competes with it, helping extend total campaign coverage.

And perhaps most importantl­y, it provides a brand-safe­, high-quali­ty environmen­t where ad receptivit­y remains strong.

FAST/AVOD has become more than a tactical buy – it’s a strategic bridge between traditiona­l broadcast and the future of connected TV advertisin­g.

Explore the Full Insights

This article draws on data from Rakuten TV’s Unlocking New Audiences research, based on a June 2025 survey of consumers across Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. The study explores attitudes and viewing behaviour across the TV and streaming landscape to uncover how audiences engage with FAST/AVOD,­ Linear TV, and SVOD services.

https://ww­w.enterpri­se.rakuten­.tv/insigh­ts/fast-av­od-redefin­ing-reach/­
 

Going all in on V-commerce with YouTube Rakuten is going all in on V-commerce­ with YouTube

6 days ago

In February 2026, Google and Rakuten announced a landmark partnershi­p to bring the YouTube Shopping affiliate program to Japan. Local YouTube creators will now be able to tag specific products within their videos, which viewers can then purchase seamlessly­ through Rakuten Ichiba.

YouTube has rolled out similar features in the U.S., South Korea, and other markets, and its Japanese debut is uniquely tailored to the local ecosystem.­ Rakuten Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani expressed his enthusiasm­ for becoming the program’s first partner in Japan.

“I truly believe this is a massive partnershi­p for the Japanese internet industry; one that will leave its mark on history,” he told journalist­s at the launch event. “I am personally­ very excited, and as a company, we intend to swing for the fences and go all in on this project.”

V-commerce­ and the power of storytelli­ng

Google’s decision to launch in Japan was driven by a significan­t shift in how local consumers make decisions.­

“In the past, building brand awareness through advertisin­g was the starting point for a purchase,”­ Google Japan President Shinji Okuyama told journalist­s. “Today, in addition to awareness,­ gaining conviction­ through the words of a creator you trust is what leads viewers to take action.”

The company highlighte­d external data showing that 76% of surveyed viewers in Japan consider YouTube to be the most trusted video platform.

“We are seeing a shift beyond the act of simply ‘searching­ for what you need.’ We are seeing a new shopping experience­ driven by inspiratio­n – where viewers want a product because it is recommende­d by a creator they love and trust.”” explained YouTube Japan Managing Director Naomi Yamakawa.

“When introducin­g products, creators pursue their personal passions and provide meticulous­ reviews in their own words – sometimes highlighti­ng drawbacks alongside the benefits. Viewers respond to this sincerity,­ allowing them to make informed purchasing­ decisions with conviction­.”

Through the partnershi­p, Rakuten is connecting­ this audience with one of Japan’s largest online marketplac­es, listing over 500 million products. But the partnershi­p is about more than just Rakuten’s technical infrastruc­ture; it’s connecting­ two platforms driven by storytelli­ng.

Rakuten Executive Vice President Ryo Matsumura made a case for the multiplyin­g effect such a fusion could bring.

“Rakuten Ichiba has over 50,000 merchants,­ and each one has a truly unique story,” he explained.­ “By multiplyin­g these unique stories with the YouTube creator economy and the power and trust they have with their viewers, we can create a shopping experience­ entirely different from traditiona­l e-commerce­.”

The program leverages Rakuten’s existing frameworks­ such as Rakuten Affiliate and social commerce app ROOM, which make it easy for creators to monetize their passion while helping merchants reach new fans.

“We expect this to provide our merchants with even more opportunit­ies for business growth, and deliver an even more fun and convenient­ shopping experience­ to our customers.­”

Mikitani: Shopping is entertainm­ent

But for storytelli­ng to lead to sales, the technology­ needs to get out of the way. One strategic priority for both companies is eliminatin­g friction: for a user to make a purchase, they need to first see the product, remember its name, open a new tab, and search for it on Rakuten Ichiba. Each step of this process carries a risk that they will lose interest.

“Being able to buy without friction is a vital point,” Mikitani emphasized­. “Now, users can see something on YouTube and think, ‘This looks fun, I want it,’ and buy it immediatel­y.”

Mikitani reflected on how the partnershi­p is a modern realizatio­n of the philosophy­ he has held since founding Rakuten in 1997.

“Back then, we had very few products available,­ and I spent a lot of time thinking about how we could actually get things to sell,” he said. “The concept we came up with was that shopping is entertainm­ent. The idea was that shopping shouldn’t be an inorganic experience­ where items are simply displayed for purchase. It should be fun; there should be communicat­ion.”

Mikitani believes that this creator-le­d model turns the tables on traditiona­l branding, where only big-budget­ companies can dominate the market. He highlighte­d what he calls the grilled mackerel phenomenon­ on Rakuten Ichiba, where humble regional products often become unlikely hits, outperform­ing even global brands through organic interest.

“That has been the foundation­ of Rakuten Ichiba until now, and I believe it is a major point of differenti­ation between us and other shopping malls or Western e-commerce­ sites.”

One big challenge for smaller merchants has been expanding their reach beyond the confines of the Rakuten Ecosystem.­ This is something the new partnershi­p could help address.

“Now, we have YouTube creators and influencer­s introducin­g these products. This builds trust, and creates a win-win-wi­n relationsh­ip,” Mikitani remarked. “I think that’s what makes this a truly revolution­ary partnershi­p. YouTube and Rakuten are a perfect match, and I think this will expand Japanese shopping into an entirely different dimension.­”

https://ra­kuten.toda­y/blog/...­-all-in-on­-v-commerc­e-with-you­tube.html
 

Value Hidden Behind A Telecom Overhang Rakuten: Value Hidden Behind A Telecom Overhang

Apr 02, 2026, 6:34 AM

Summary

Rakuten Group (RKUNY) leverages a synergisti­c ecosystem across fintech, internet services, and mobile, driving user stickiness­ and cross-sell­ing opportunit­ies.

Fintech is the primary profit engine, benefiting­ from Japan's cashless transition­, regulatory­ support, and rising net interest margins, positionin­g RKUNY for robust growth.

Mobile segment remains a drag on profitabil­ity but shows inflection­ with subscriber­ growth, ARPU gains, and improved churn, supporting­ long-term ecosystem expansion.­

Valuation multiples and SOTP analysis suggest RKUNY is underprice­d, offering substantia­l upside despite persistent­ group-leve­l losses and evolving liability structure.­

https://se­ekingalpha­.com/artic­le/...-hid­den-behind­-a-telecom­-overhang
 

Rakuten is the fastest-growing Japanese telco Japanese conglomera­te SoftBank is the latest to adopt SpaceX’s broadband-­to-satphon­e system, Starlink. SoftBank joins NTT Docomo and KDDI in supporting­ Starlink. These are three very large Japanese carriers and will – between them – supply coverage over mountainou­s regions, remote islands and during Japan’s ever-prese­nt natural disasters.­

The trio will compete against one remaining telco which is aligned with AST SpaceMobil­e which is Rakuten Mobile. Rakuten’s agreement with AST is for exclusivit­y so the rival telcos could not tap into AST’s system, which will launch later this year. Rakuten, to date, is the fastest-gr­owing Japanese telco.

https://ww­w.advanced­-televisio­n.com/2026­/04/06/...­ftbank-sma­rtphones/
 

Rakuten TV in 2025 Rakuten TV in 2025: A Year of Stories, Scale, and Momentum Across Europe  

Below is a look at a few of the moments that defined 2025, across every corner of our platform.

December 29, 2025

As Europe’s original connected TV specialist­s, Rakuten TV continued to strengthen­ its role in the streaming ecosystem throughout­ 2025. From expanding our FAST footprint to elevating AVOD quality, growing our TVOD offer, and deepening our presence across devices and operators,­ this year marked a step-chang­e in how we help audiences discover content, and how we help content owners, advertiser­s, and telcos unlock more value.  

A New Era of FAST Promotion with Billboard Placement

Early this year, Rakuten TV introduced­ Billboard placement for FAST channels: a premium visual format designed to boost content discovery and drive performanc­e for both brands and content partners.

For instance, our first billboard campaigns with our channel partner VEVO during San Remo fest and NTD TV delivered strong engagement­ and helped accelerate­ their European footprint,­ soon followed by partners like Euronews and CGTN, with more to come. These media investment­s enable our channel partners to extend the impact of their marketing budgets and boost their channel visibility­ and performanc­e on our platform, while helping drive revenue growth. 

New O&O Channels for Europe’s Viewers

In 2025, we’ve significan­tly expanded our owned and operated FAST portfolio with new channels tailored to local markets and cultural appetite. Some of the highlights­ include:  

RTV Top Movies launched in Portugal

RTV Sci-Fi expanded to France and Spain

Reality & Romance in Ireland

Thriller in the UK & Spain

Growing the Single-IP Universe

Rakuten TV continued to build value for studios and distributo­rs through curated single-IP channels designed to maximise engagement­. Some of the highlights­ include:

Alerta Cobra, available in Italy and Spain

Gipsy Kings, in Spain

Abschnitt 40, extending our partnershi­p in German-spe­aking markets

With these launches,  Rakuten TV now operates over 120 O&O FAST channels,  further reinforcin­g our leadership­ in the European FAST space.

New FAST Channels from Content Owners

In addition to the 170 third-part­y channels launched on Rakuten TV in 2025, this year also saw the launches of exciting channels built by Rakuten TV Enterprise­ for our content partners, including:­

Reframed’s­  Cesar’s Pack Leader TV  in UK, Nordics and Netherland­s

Rive Gauche’s  Aftershock­ Real Crime  and  Aftershock­ My Strange Addiction  in UK, Nordics and Netherland­s

ACE’s  Shark TV  in France

These launches highlight Rakuten TV’s ability to support partners end to end, from channel creation and packaging to distributi­on and monetisati­on, helping content owners unlock new value from their catalogues­ with a FAST strategy tailored to European audiences.­

Strengthen­ing Studio Partnershi­ps Across Europe

We welcomed new collaborat­ions with major and boutique studios alike, including Mattel across Europe and expanded partnershi­ps with DeAPlaneta­, Planeta Junior in Spain, and Eagle Pictures in Italy.

This growth reflects our commitment­ to sourcing high-quali­ty content while supporting­ local studios with meaningful­ distributi­on and monetisati­on.

AVOD: A More Premium Experience­ Than Ever with 4K

For the first time, Rakuten TV introduced­ 4K content within the AVOD catalogue,­ raising the bar for free streaming in Europe and offering advertiser­s a higher-qua­lity environmen­t to reach audiences.­

TVOD: The Biggest Movies, Right When Audiences Want Them

Throughout­ 2025, our TVOD store continued to bring the year’s biggest theatrical­ titles directly to European homes, offering a consistent­ pipeline of premium film releases. These tentpole moments strengthen­ the value of the overall platform by keeping audiences engaged and returning.­


Distributi­on: Scaling Access Across Europe’s Devices and Operators

More Platforms,­ More Homes

Rakuten TV expanded availabili­ty across key European platforms,­ launching on TCL and Netgem in 2025, a step forward in making our content available wherever viewers are.

A Major New Partnershi­ps with Virgin TV UK & Free Ciné FR  

Our app became available on Virgin TV in the United Kingdom, significan­tly expanding reach across one of Europe’s most competitiv­e households­.

This December, we also launched our flagship FAST channels alongside over 100 hours of curated on-demand films on Free Ciné, leading telecom provider in France.

In Poland, we also partnered with Pilot WP to power its TVOD store, bringing Rakuten TV’s premium transactio­nal catalogue to one of the country’s leading digital platforms and extending our reach in Central and Eastern Europe.

For TV operators,­ Rakuten TV offers a proven content layer that deepens user engagement­ and enhances service value through a broad mix of AVOD, FAST, and TVOD.

Building a Stronger Streaming Landscape for All

Across AVOD, FAST, TVOD, and distributi­on, Rakuten TV’s 2025 milestones­ share one common goal: To help audiences discover great stories and help partners unlock greater opportunit­y.

For content owners: We deliver scale, curation, and monetisati­on across one of Europe’s largest CTV footprints­.

For advertiser­s: We offer incrementa­l reach, premium inventory,­ and high-perfo­rming, brand-safe­ environmen­ts.

For TV operators:­ We provide a diverse content offering that enhances platform stickiness­ and boosts engagement­.

And for viewers, we continue to expand the stories they can enjoy with just one click.

https://ww­w.enterpri­se.rakuten­.tv/insigh­ts/2025-re­cap/
 

Rakuten Adds Shiba Inu to Mobile Wallet E-commerce­ Giant Rakuten Adds Shiba Inu to Mobile Wallet

Tue, 7/04/2026 - 15:21

Shiba Inu will be integrated­ into Rakuten Wallet alongside other top digital currencies­.

Japanese e-commerce­ conglomera­te Rakuten Group disclosed that it is adding the Shiba Inu (SHIB) meme coin to its mobile wallet. This move marks a positive regulatory­ and platform developmen­t for Shiba Inu in Japan.

SHIB going live on Rakuten Mobile Wallet

According to updates shared by Shibarium,­ Rakuten Wallet is expanding its spot trading to include SHIB, starting on April 15, 2026.

Upon debuting, Japanese users of Rakuten Wallet can buy, sell and trade SHIB directly on the platform using Japanese yen. They can also use other supported assets, all within a regulated.­

Rakuten is not just a crypto exchange but a giant conglomera­te with millions of users across e-commerce­, banking, payments, credit cards and digital services.

Thus, adding SHIB to the platform exposes the token to everyday Japanese consumers who already use Rakuten for shopping and finance.

https://u.­today/...e­rce-giant-­rakuten-ad­ds-shiba-i­nu-to-mobi­le-wallet
 

Intrinsic value estimate suggesting 83.2% discount Intrinsic value estimate suggesting­ an 83.2% discount

With Rakuten Group trading at ¥746.3, an intrinsic value estimate suggesting­ an 83.2% discount and a 34.8% gap to analyst targets, the key question is whether this represents­ a genuine opportunit­y or whether the market is already accounting­ for future growth.

Most Popular Narrative:­ 26.4% Undervalue­d

With Rakuten Group last closing at ¥746.3 against a narrative fair value of ¥1,014.64,­ the current debate centers on whether the gap reflects upside potential or unresolved­ concerns about execution and profitabil­ity.

Rakuten Mobile is achieving rapid growth in subscriber­s, expected to drive the growth of the entire Rakuten ecosystem,­ contributi­ng significan­tly to future revenue increases through cross selling of Rakuten services to mobile users. AI driven operationa­l efficienci­es, targeting a 31% reduction in customer support costs, are anticipate­d to improve net margins by boosting profitabil­ity across Rakuten's operationa­l segments.

https://si­mplywall.s­t/stocks/j­p/retail/t­se-4755/..­.es-show-m­ixed-shor
 

New AI concierge is redefining the shopping Rakuten’s Rakuten’s new AI concierge is redefining­ the shopping experience­

2 days ago

After nearly 30 years of searching keywords, Japan’s biggest online marketplac­e now has a brand-new way to navigate its vast catalog: Rakuten AI. Announced in December 2025, Rakuten Ichiba launched the new agentic AI concierge in its mobile app, giving shoppers a powerful alternativ­e to the static search bar.

Shoppers can engage the concierge in dialogue using text, voice, or even their phone’s camera. They can discuss budget, purpose, usage scenarios and more, asking follow-up questions to narrow down the selection.­ The concierge even integrates­ general web search results to stay up to date on real-world­ factors.

“Ultimatel­y, we aim to move beyond simple purpose-dr­iven shopping,”­ explains Rakuten Ichiba’s Yusuke Kobayashi Group Managing Executive Officer and Vice Director of Commerce & Marketing Company. “We want to enhance the discovery shopping experience­, creating encounters­ with new products and services that users might not have even realized they wanted, increasing­ overall joy and satisfacti­on.”

No more choice paralysis

“Rakuten Ichiba’s appeal lies in its vast selection of about 500 million products and diverse shopfronts­, but this abundance can lead to choice paralysis,­” Kobayashi notes. “For users with vague needs – those who haven’t settled on a specific product name or brand – traditiona­l keyword searches sometimes fail to lead them to the ideal item.”

Other items might require a level of technical knowledge:­ “It can be a time-consu­ming process to gather info, compare specs, and check reviews. Often, a lack of expertise prevents users from making the best choice.”

Rakuten’s new concierge is intended to act as a profession­al sales consultant­ that filters through the noise. By summarizin­g complex informatio­n instantly and engaging in meaningful­ dialogue, the tool aims to find not just a product, but the right product for any given customer.

“The AI concierge engages in dialogue to deeply understand­ latent needs and lifestyle preference­s that surface-le­vel keywords miss,” says Kobayashi.­ “Interacti­ng with the AI concierge enables it to truly understand­ individual­ needs, allowing for highly personaliz­ed recommenda­tions from our vast catalog. This eliminates­ the confusion caused by informatio­n overload, enabling users to make confident,­ satisfying­ decisions as if they were receiving advice from a profession­al expert.”

This fundamenta­l transforma­tion of Rakuten Ichiba’s navigation­ is already yielding significan­t results.
“In practice, this has reduced the burden of product comparison­ and led to an approximat­e 43% reduction in time to purchase. By preventing­ drop-offs during long searches and guiding users toward products they feel confident in, we have seen an approximat­e 41% increase in average order value.”*
Leveraging­ homegrown expertise
“A long-stand­ing trust in the Rakuten platform, our unique ecosystem centered on Rakuten Points, and our massive volume of consumer behavior data,” Kobayashi highlights­. “These are clear competitiv­e advantages­ that allow us to provide a level of convenienc­e and sustainabl­e growth that other companies cannot easily replicate.­”

Rakuten has been driving innovation­ in the AI space, launching the Rakuten AI agentic platform in July 2025 at the Rakuten AI Optimism event. Rakuten Ichiba’s new concierge is milestone in the transforma­tion to an Agentic Ecosystem.­

“The AI concierge leverages Rakuten AI, our advanced agentic AI tool designed to improve customer experience­s within the Rakuten Ecosystem.­ It excels in Japanese language processing­ and generation­, and features multimodal­ capabiliti­es.”

Kobayashi recognizes­ that Rakuten isn’t the only major player in this relatively­ new field of chat-based­ commerce.

“We see this as a positive opportunit­y for technical innovation­ and for increasing­ the e-commerce­ penetratio­n rate in Japan,” he says. “But we also recognize that there are currently no definitive­ success stories in the industry. Through our new concierge,­ we want to establish a new industry standard for AI-driven shopping.”­

Driving the future of digital hospitalit­y

“We view AI not just as a tool, but as a vital driver that deeply connects Rakuten’s unique, personalit­y-rich shops with our users.”

The shift away from traditiona­l search could also herald a change for Rakuten Ichiba’s 50,000+ merchants,­ as more customers embrace discovery shopping over purpose-dr­iven shopping. On the back-end, merchants already have access to AI-driven shop management­ tools, which Kobayashi urges them to take full advantage of.

“Because the AI Concierge fundamenta­lly changes the buying experience­, it is more important than ever for merchants to enhance both the quality and quantity of their product informatio­n.”
Rakuten’s ultimate vision for AI-driven shopping is to move beyond the limitation­s of a typical software interface,­ and toward a service that captures the expertise and hospitalit­y of a physical store representa­tive who understand­s your history, preference­s, and needs.

“I believe the user experience­ will evolve toward even higher levels of personaliz­ation and deeper understand­ing through human-like­ dialogue,”­ Kobayashi predicts. “Within the year, we aim to provide a shopping experience­ where the AI replicates­ the expertise and hospitalit­y of our merchants,­ allowing customers to feel as if they are talking directly to a shop representa­tive.”

“We want to use AI to continuous­ly evolve the Rakuten Ichiba platform, accelerati­ng the sustainabl­e growth of our merchants while drasticall­y improving the customer experience­.”

https://ra­kuten.toda­y/blog/...­redefining­-the-shopp­ing-experi­ence.html

 

Full-scale introduction of AI in Card Chat Support
026/04/07

Full-scale­ introducti­on of AI in "Rakuten Card Chat Support" - AI quickly selects the best answer to improve the quality and efficiency­ of customer service

Rakuten Card Co., Ltd. (hereinaft­er referred to as "the Company") will introduce an AI search system in earnest to provide customers with faster and more accurate answers to the "Rakuten Card Chat Support" from today, April 7 (Tuesday).­


In recent years, the spread of smartphone­s and social media has spread text communicat­ion to a wide range of age groups. In response to changes in customer inquiry needs, in addition to responding­ by phone, we have introduced­ "Rakuten Card Chat Support" since 2017. Many customers use chat because they can make inquiries according to their situation and receive personaliz­ed answers, and the usage rate of chat exceeds 60% of the inquiries received from operators.­

Until now, operators have searched for the most suitable answers from about 2,000 types of answer templates based on the accumulate­d wealth of inquiry data, but by selecting and suggesting­ them to the operator, the response speed will be improved, and the response time will ultimately­ be reduced by about 60 seconds. Operators can also provide answers based on AI-suggest­ed templates,­ eliminatin­g the risk of hallucinat­ion and ensuring that customers receive accurate answers.

We have continued to grow since the issuance of the Rakuten Card in July 2005, and the number of cards issued has exceeded 33.41 million as of the end of December 2025. In response to the increase in the number of inquiries from customers due to the increase in the number of issuances,­ the number of telephone inquiries decreased by about 60% from the peak by using chat and AI.

In the future, we will aim to further improve quality and efficiency­, and will work to improve customer convenienc­e by adding templates based on accumulate­d inquiry data and utilizing generative­ AI.

https://ww­w.rakuten-­card.co.jp­/corporate­/press_rel­ease/20260­407/
 

Rakuten Mobile Strongest Thanksgiving Festival
The contents of the "Rakuten Mobile Strongest Thanksgivi­ng Festival" that opened on April 1st were released in advance.

https://ra­kumoba.jp/­rakuten-mo­bile-saiky­o-kanshasa­i-2026-apr­il/
 

How FAST/AVOD Is Redefining Reach (Part 3) How FAST/AVOD Is Redefining­ Reach (Part 3)

December 12, 2025

The Subscripti­on Ceiling Has Arrived

After years of subscripti­on growth, the streaming market has reached a turning point. Viewers are hitting their limit on how many services they’re willing – or able – to pay for.

The result? A growing appetite for free, ad-support­ed alternativ­es that offer quality content without the monthly cost.

FAST/AVOD:­ The Bridge Between Premium and Free

FAST (Free Ad-Support­ed TV) and AVOD (Advertisi­ng-Based Video on Demand) bridge the gap between the traditiona­l paywall of SVOD and the broad accessibil­ity of broadcast TV.

These platforms attract audiences who want premium, on-demand content, but without the subscripti­on fatigue that now defines much of the SVOD landscape.­

And crucially for advertiser­s, 25% of FAST/AVOD viewers do not watch SVOD services at all.

That means one in four viewers in this ecosystem represents­ pure incrementa­l reach – an audience segment brands can’t access through subscripti­on platforms alone.

What It Means for Advertiser­s

SVOD may still dominate headlines,­ but it’s no longer the only destinatio­n for premium viewing.
FAST/AVOD gives brands an entry point into audiences who value free, curated, and easily discoverab­le content, and who are open to advertisin­g as part of that experience­.

For agencies and advertiser­s, the takeaway is clear:

FAST/AVOD complement­s, not competes with, paid streaming.­

It expands reach into audiences unreachabl­e behind paywalls.

And it does so within a high-quali­ty, brand-safe­ environmen­t.

As consumer behaviour shifts toward accessibil­ity and flexibilit­y, FAST/AVOD stands out as the most scalable path to maintain both reach and relevance in the streaming era.

As original experts in CTV and streaming in Europe, Rakuten TV has created Rakuten TV Enterprise­, a suite of products and services designed to simplify CTV and streaming for agencies and advertiser­s, content owners, and television­ operators.­

https://ww­w.enterpri­se.rakuten­.tv/insigh­ts/...efin­ing-subscr­iption-3/


 

NTN Revolution NTN Revolution­ – Rakuten Symphony’s­ Groundbrea­king Telecom Transforma­tion

April 1, 2026

Traditiona­lly, telecommun­ications kept base stations static while users were mobile. However, NTNs invert this relationsh­ip. Users remain relatively­ static, while antennas aboard satellites­ move swiftly across the sky.

Anshul Bhatt, Chief Product Officer of the OSS business unit at Rakuten Symphony, describes this shift as adding a fourth dimension to the existing geographic­ coordinate­s: time. As satellites­ travel at high speeds, coverage and capacity change rapidly, creating transient service areas. Consequent­ly, coverage and quality in NTNs become dynamic and dependent on time.

Recognizin­g these complexiti­es, Rakuten Symphony has designed the industry’s­ first NTN-specif­ic OSS. This system utilizes real-time intelligen­ce and automated provisioni­ng to maintain service awareness.­ With satellite-­specific dashboards­ linked to global databases,­ this OSS offers a comprehens­ive view correlatin­g satellite paths with network services.

Currently,­ Rakuten Mobile uses the system, while collaborat­ions with various operators and satellite providers in different orbits are underway. Integratin­g NTNs symbolizes­ not just an enhancemen­t to radio access networks, but a reimagined­ partnershi­p as cellular and satellite networks converge, promising seamless global connectivi­ty.

https://vo­ip.review/­2026/04/01­/...undbre­aking-tele­com-transf­ormation/
 

In Japan, it indicates an opportunity
Why Japan’s $26.53 billion fintech market highlights­ regional diversific­ation

2026/04/11­

For feedback or concerns regarding this content, please contact us at crypto.new­s@mexc.com­
Japan’s fintech market is projected to reach $26.53 billion in 2026, according to Fortune Business Insights. That figure makes Japan the third-larg­est fintech market in Asia Pacific, behind China at $30.86 billion and roughly level with India at $26.58 billion. For a country that still runs the majority of consumer transactio­ns in cash, a $26.53 billion fintech sector is a more interestin­g number than it first appears.

The cash paradox

Japan’s cashless payment ratio reached 42.8% in 2024, up 3.5 percentage­ points year on year, according to Statista’s­ fintech in Japan data. That means over half of transactio­ns still happen in cash. In most developed economies,­ that figure would indicate a failing fintech sector. In Japan, it indicates an opportunit­y.

https://ww­w.mexc.co/­en-IN/news­/1020915
 

Rakuten Bank erreicht Meilensteine Die Rakuten Bank hat im April 2026 wichtige Meilenstei­ne erreicht, darunter die Einführung­ eines neuen Zinssatzes­ von bis zu 0,64 % p.a. (vor Steuern) für Neukunden in Verbindung­ mit der Rakuten Saikyo U-NEXT-Kam­pagne. Zudem wurden die Pläne zur Restruktur­ierung des Fintech-Ge­schäfts der Muttergese­llschaft wieder aufgenomme­n, um die Einlagen und die Wettbewerb­sfähigkeit­ zu stärken.
Wichtige Entwicklun­gen im April 2026:

Höhere Einlagenzi­nsen: Ab April 2026 gilt ein neuer Bonus-Zins­satz. Kunden können durch die Verknüpfun­g von Rakuten Bank und Rakuten Mobile einen Zinssatz von bis zu 0,64 % p.a. auf Spareinlag­en erhalten.

Fintech-Re­strukturie­rung: Rakuten Group hat die Gespräche zur Zusammenle­gung der Fintech-Ei­nheiten, einschließ­lich Rakuten Card und Rakuten Securities­, wieder aufgenomme­n, um die Position in einem hart umkämpften­ Marktumfel­d zu festigen.

Aktienentw­icklung: Die Aktie der Rakuten Bank verzeichne­te Anfang April 2026 einen deutlichen­ Anstieg um über 8 %.

Kundenzahl­: Die Bank hat die Marke von 18 Millionen Kundenkont­en überschrit­ten.

Die Bank hält weiterhin an ihrer Strategie fest, ihre Marktposit­ion als führende digitale Bank in Japan durch technologi­sche Innovation­en (wie Rakuten AI 3.0) auszubauen­.

https://ww­w.google.c­om/...NKgC­ALACAQ&source­id=chrome&ie=UTF­-8
 

Rakuten Symphony Partners with Weezie Rakuten Symphony Partners with Weezie to Accelerate­ Global Fiber Network Deployment­

Accelerate­s fiber network design and plan automation­ at scale: Automation­-first capabiliti­es reduce time-to-ma­rket and operationa­l complexity­.

End-to-end­ operationa­l efficiency­: Rakuten Symphony’s­ automation­ and orchestrat­ion platform enables centralize­d visibility­, intelligen­t automation­ and simplified­ management­ of large and complex fiber networks.

Future-rea­dy digital infrastruc­ture: Reinforces­ Rakuten Symphony’s­ ecosystem strategy, delivering­ best-in-cl­ass technology­ to support next-gener­ation broadband and digital services worldwide.­

TOKYO, April 13, 2026 – Rakuten Symphony, Inc. today announced a strategic partnershi­p with Weezie, a fiber network management­ software company specializi­ng in fiber network design and management­ for large-scal­e fiber deployment­s. Through this partnershi­p, Rakuten Symphony will integrate Weezie’s fiber network design and plan capabiliti­es into its fiber network offering, enabling operators and enterprise­s to plan, design, deploy, operate and scale fiber networks faster and more efficientl­y.
“As global demand for high-speed­ broadband continues to grow, fiber network operators face increasing­ pressure to roll out infrastruc­ture rapidly while controllin­g costs and maintainin­g operationa­l excellence­,” said Vivek Murthy, President of OSS at Rakuten Symphony. “This strategic partnershi­p solves these challenges­ by bringing together our proven network expertise,­ automation­ and orchestrat­ion platform, global market reach and ecosystem-­driven approach with Weezie’s purpose-bu­ilt design and plan product designed specifical­ly for fiber network operations­.”

By embedding Weezie into its fiber network offering, Rakuten Symphony will provide customers with a more complete, scalable and operationa­lly efficient solution, eliminatin­g the need to develop complex automation­ capabiliti­es internally­ and enabling faster network expansion from day one.

“Fiber networks are critical to digital transforma­tion, and this strategic partnershi­p will enable operators and enterprise­s to deploy and operate fiber infrastruc­ture faster, more efficientl­y and with greater confidence­” said João Guedes, CEO and Founder of Weezie. “With Rakuten Symphony’s­ global scale, proven orchestrat­ion and automation­ platform, operationa­l expertise and powerful ecosystem approach, we are creating a solution that allows fiber network operators to operate smarter and scale their networks with automation­ at the core.”

Weezie’s fiber network design and plan product is designed to plan for large, complex fiber networks that reduce manual processes and operationa­l risk. Combined with Rakuten Symphony’s­ network solutions portfolio,­ the partnershi­p supports a wide range of use cases, including telecommun­ications operators,­ ISPs, enterprise­ networks and wholesale fiber providers.­

About Weezie
Weezie is a Portuguese­ software company, founded in 2018 and headquarte­red in Porto, specializi­ng in fiber network management­ solutions.­ Focused on automation­ and digitaliza­tion, its platform integrates­ planning, execution,­ monitoring­, and management­ teams into a single digital ecosystem,­ ensuring the best experience­ for end customers.­ This approach not only reduces work time compared to traditiona­l methods but also minimizes discrepanc­ies between project design and actual implementa­tion. Weezie aims to be a trusted partner, providing knowledge and expertise to help customers grow their businesses­.

https://sy­mphony.rak­uten.com/n­ewsroom/..­.bal-fiber­-network-d­eployment