- Full-scale commercial deployment reduces power consumption by up to 24% in optical transmission equipment

Tokyo – Rakuten Mobile, Inc. today announced it has become the first operator in the Asia-Pacific region to deploy Nokia’s remote power-saving solution for Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) optical transmission equipment in its 4G and 5G commercial network^*1,2. Developed to meet Rakuten Mobile’s requirements, the solution significantly enhances network sustainability and operational efficiency.

The power-saving solution enables remote control of unused expansion modules^*3 within optical transmission equipment installed at thousands of Rakuten Mobile edge data centers nationwide^*4. By optimizing the power consumption of these modules, the solution is expected to reduce the power consumption of Nokia's optical transmission equipment installed in these edge data centers by approximately 24% compared to conventional levels, significantly contributing to lower electricity costs and CO₂ emissions. Additionally, by optimizing resource allocation remotely, the solution also helps reduce network operational costs.

The Nokia optical transmission equipment equipped with this solution is characterized by scalability, simplicity and security. Nokia provides scalable solutions ranging from the network edge to metro, long-haul and subsea networks. By streamlining everything from network operations to service delivery, Nokia is deploying smarter, more automated networks that reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO). This enables Rakuten Mobile to greatly improve network flexibility and efficiency.

Hiroshi Takeshita, Vice Chief Technology Officer of Rakuten Mobile, commented, “As networks become increasingly sophisticated, managing rising power consumption and operational costs has become a critical challenge. The deployment of this remote power-saving solution, developed in close partnership with Nokia, represents a significant step towards more sustainable networks. Rakuten Mobile is pushing the boundaries of flexible and scalable next-generation networks by embracing Open RAN and virtualization technologies. We remain committed to integrating innovative tech to optimize energy consumption and achieve sustainable network operations.”

Ron Johnson, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Nokia’s Optical Networks business, commented, "We are proud to collaborate with Rakuten Mobile to deliver the Asia-Pacific region’s first remote power-saving feature for DWDM optical transmission equipment in its 4G and 5G commercial network. This innovation marks a significant step forward in reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, while also lowering network operating costs. We look forward to building on this partnership to further advance sustainable network operations.”

Rakuten Mobile and Nokia will continue to strengthen their partnership to promote sustainable network operations and reduce environmental impact through the introduction of cutting-edge technologies. Both companies will continue to monitor the operational status of the power-saving solution and drive further technological development for enhanced power savings and network optimization.

Notes:
*1 As of September 2025 (research by Nokia).
*2 Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) is a type of Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) technology that increases the transmission density of optical fibers by using closely spaced wavelengths.
*3 Expansion modules in transmission equipment (such as optical transmission devices and routers) are components added to extend or enhance the basic functions of the equipment. They are typically inserted into dedicated slots on the rear or side of the device.
*4 Edge data centers refer to subscriber exchange offices (central offices) that house subscriber lines within an area and manage calls and connections.