Rakuten Symphony selected for METI grant to accelerate Open RAN and RIC deployment in global south

- Implementing large-scale Open RAN and RIC demonstrations in seven Global South countries

Tokyo – Rakuten Symphony today announced its selection for a grant from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), designed to accelerate the deployment of Open RAN and RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) technologies and address critical infrastructure challenges across the Global South. The grant was awarded with funding through contributions to the AEM-METI Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee (AMEICC) under METI’s Subsidy Program for Future-Oriented Co-creation Projects with the Global South (Large-Scale Demonstrations in ASEAN Member Countries) and the METI-subsidized program, Future-Oriented Co-creation Projects with the Global South (Large-Scale Demonstrations in Non-ASEAN Member Countries). Rakuten Symphony’s selection was made during the second public offering of the program for its Demonstration Project on Radio Access Network (RAN) Control Optimization Technology Using AI and Machine Learning^*1,2. 

Under this project, Rakuten Symphony will lead extensive demonstrations of Open RAN and RIC, its AI-driven management and control component, in the Global South, which includes countries in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa. The goal is to test and validate the effectiveness and reliability of these advanced network solutions within diverse commercial environments, accelerating the global adoption of Open RAN and RIC. Rakuten Mobile will participate as a key collaborating partner.

The Global South currently faces a range of challenges in telecommunications infrastructure. These include significant disparities in network access, delayed development in geographically complex areas such as islands and mountainous regions, escalating recovery costs from natural disasters, aging legacy infrastructure, substantial investments required for 5G migration and insufficient power infrastructure. Through this project, Rakuten Symphony is committed to addressing these critical issues and fostering more resilient and efficient communication networks.

Project Title: Demonstration Project on Radio Access Network Control Optimization Technology Using AI and Machine Learning

Demonstrations in ASEAN Member Countries and Non-ASEAN Member Countries

The demonstration project will span a total of seven countries: three ASEAN member states (Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia) and four non-ASEAN nations (India, Kuwait, Bolivia and Paraguay). In each country, Rakuten Symphony will deploy virtualized Open RAN networks comprising approximately 100 base stations. These networks will then be utilized for comprehensive RIC validation.

METI has allocated a maximum subsidy of 8 billion yen in total for demonstrations within ASEAN and non-ASEAN member countries. This substantial government funding will enable large-scale demonstrations to be implemented simultaneously, with around 100 base stations deployed in each participating nation. By conducting trials of this scale, Rakuten Symphony aims to quantitatively demonstrate the benefits of deploying RIC, thereby facilitating early commercialization in these markets. This marks Rakuten Symphony’s first such large-scale demonstration in an overseas market.

Rakuten Mobile, in close collaboration with Rakuten Symphony and with the ongoing support of the Japanese government, has been at the forefront of advancing virtualized Open RAN network capabilities^*3,4. By conducting large-scale overseas demonstrations that include RIC, this project will significantly enhance Open RAN integration^*5, advance the "co-creation with the Global South" initiative promoted by the Japanese government, and expand Open RAN adoption and market share globally. Additionally, the project is anticipated to generate new business models for foreign investment in communication infrastructure, enhance international competitiveness, strengthen economic security and improve the autonomy of essential social infrastructure.

Through this pioneering project, Rakuten Symphony is dedicated to leveraging innovative technologies to address critical challenges in communication infrastructure, ultimately enhancing network efficiency and quality worldwide.