BARCELONA, – Mobile World Congress – February 24, 2019 – Cisco today announced details of its innovation blueprint with Rakuten Mobile Network, Inc. to build the world’s first end-to-end fully virtualized, cloud native mobile network, ready for 5G.

Rakuten Mobile Network (RMN), a wholly owned subsidiary of Rakuten, Inc., a global leader in internet services and soon to be operator of Japan’s newest mobile network, announced on February 12 it plans to launch commercial services via its new mobile network in October 2019 with an innovative cloud- native architecture that is fully virtualized from radio access to core, with end-to-end automation for both network operations and services.

Innovation Blueprint

The foundation of the new Rakuten Mobile Network architecture and telco-cloud will extensively use Cisco software and services,and routing and switching hardware. Cisco delivered its best-of-breed portfolio spanning technology from its Cloud, IT and Service Provider businesses, as well as engineering, multi-vendor system integration, security and operations expertise from Cisco Customer Experience to deliver in record time what was considered close to impossible l ess than eight months ago.

Cisco Customer Experience is the primary systems integrator forthe 5G-ready cloud native architecture design and the deployment of RMN’s virtualized telco-cloud.

Key contributions feature the following:

• Fully virtualized network with a common and distributed telco-cloud with NFVI
• Multi-access edge computing
• 5G-ready system architecture
• 5G enabled IPv6 transport/mobile backhaul
• SDN-enabled centralized and regional data center fabrics for 5G
• End-to-end infrastructure and service automation

Cisco’s visionary networking model incorporating these technologies will enable RMN to deliver a broad suite of services including consumer mobile, IoT, rich media and low-latency services including augmented and virtual reality.

"Rakuten is taking a cutting-edge approach to mobile networking, modelling a new type of network that is software-powered and automated from top to bottom,” said Tareq Amin, chief technology officer, Rakuten Mobile Network. “With this design approach we mapped out with Cisco and a carefully selected vendor ecosystem, we believe we can offer high-value services at more affordable costs, helping our customers to share the true benefits of cloud innovation.”

"With the launch of this network faster than any operator has accomplished before, the world sees a shining example of the power of cloud and automation for the future of mobility,” said Jonathan Davidson, senior vice president and general manager, Service Provider Business, Cisco. “Our collaboration from concept to launch shows the breadth of Cisco to support Rakuten in designing a zero touch, fully automated, and software-driven mobile telco cloud that can serve millions of subscribers, and be ready for 5G.”

Cisco and Rakuten Keynote Event

Cisco Chairman and CEO Chuck Robbins and Rakuten Chairman, President and CEO Mickey Mikitani will showcase the two companies innovation in a shared keynote at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Wednesday, February 27 at 9:30 a.m., Keynote 7, Hall 4, Auditorium 1. Keynote will be livestreamed from #MWC19.

Cisco is leading the disruption in the industry with its technology innovations in routing, 5G, subscriber experience (mobile, cable, fixed), automation, optical and optics. Together with its Customer Experience team of experts, Cisco enables service providers, media and web companies to reduce cost and complexity, helps scale and secure their networks, and grow their revenue.

About Rakuten

Rakuten, Inc. (TSE: 4755) is a global leader in internet services that empower individuals, communities, businesses and society. Founded in Tokyo in 1997 as an online marketplace, Rakuten has expanded to offer services in e-commerce, fintech, digital content and communications to more than 1.2 billion members around the world. The Rakuten Group has over 17,000 employees, and operations in 30 countries and regions. For more information visit https://global.rakuten.com/corp/.