Rakuten Mobile picks Nokia to enhance capacity and coverage of nationwide network in Japan

Japanese telecom operator Rakuten Mobile has picked Nokia to enhance the capacity and coverage of its nationwide network in the country. As part of the deal, Nokia will supply Radio Access Network (RAN) solutions from its comprehensive energy-efficient AirScale portfolio supporting the low 700MHz spectrum band.

As per Nokia's press release, the low band 4G spectrum facilitates wider area coverage and reaches deeper into buildings than higher frequencies and will allow the Japanese operator to bring 4G to even more customers.

Commenting on this partnership, Sharad Sriwastawa, Co-CEO of Rakuten Mobile and President of Rakuten Symphony, stated, "The addition of capacity in the 700MHz band will complement our existing 4G network and help us to deliver even higher-quality service to our customers with enhanced speed, capacity, and coverage. The flexibility of Nokia's AirScale RAN portfolio made this an easy decision and we look forward to working with them moving forward."

Rakuten Mobile received approval for the 700MHz spectrum from the Japanese government's Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications in October 2023. The telco now plans to expand its mobile service offering across the country by leveraging existing base station sites for sustainable and cost-efficient deployment.

Under a separate negotiation, Rakuten Mobile subsidiary, Rakuten Symphony, will provide AirScale RAN equipment to its global customers. Rakuten Symphony provides end-to-end integration B2B services for the global mobile telecom industry and enables next-generation, cloud-based, international mobile services.

Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, said, "This is an important win in a key market for Nokia and we are thrilled to support Rakuten Group on the evolution of its 4G network. With the addition of the 700MHz frequency to its spectrum assets, Rakuten Mobile will be able to offer advanced 4G services for both consumers and business users in indoor locations. With our industry-leading AirScale portfolio, we can support all deployment scenarios and frequency bands."