Rakuten's mobile network architecture is fully virtualized and cloud-native, utilizing an open RAN approach with Altiostar's vRAN and Nokia's cloud-native core network functions. The initial network will use 4G LTE with the addition of 5G planned for early 2020. This disruptive architecture allows Rakuten to deliver a variety of consumer and enterprise services leveraging mobile edge computing for low latency. Rakuten has partnered with leading technology companies to collaborate on technical challenges in building this innovative software-defined network.

1. RAKUTEN 4G/5G -MVNO Kailash Chauhan

2. Rakuten 4G/5G is all IP, Software-defined, Cloud controlled, simplified transport-IPV6 , and edge servers network
Radio Access network initially will be with 4G LTE (Macro and Small Cells) and Wi-Fi using Altiostar VRAN with Nokia’s AirGile cloud-native
core network (Nokia software functions, including IP Multimedia Subsystem, shared data layer, session border controller, and approximately
25 cloud-based virtual network functions), with the addition of 5G planned for early 2020, subject to government licensing approval & NEC
quality 5G RU which is equipped with a 3.7 GHz frequency band massive MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) antenna in a compact,
lightweight form factor with low power consumption
This disruptive architecture will enable Rakuten Mobile Network to deliver a suite of services including consumer mobile, 5G fixed wireless
Access, NB-IOT, connected everything, rich media, low latency services like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR.) All these services
will leverage the innovative Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) architecture to enable the best possible user experience.
Rakuten Mobile Network has brought together leading partners to collaborate on the most challenging technical problems in the mobile
industry. Partners includes Cisco Systems, Nokia, Altiostar Networks, Intel, Red Hat, OKI, Fujitsu, Ciena, NEC/Netcracker, Qualcomm, Mavenir,
Quanta Cloud Technology, Sercomm, Tech Mahindra, Allot, Innoeye, and Viavi.
Open RAN architecture and virtualization are key to building software-centric networks that can scale and adapt to meet an explosion of
devices and applications driving service velocity and profits.It provided improved transport and Edge reduces latency by 20-40 ms & 5G today
is only a 10 ms improvement.
Rakuten using the newborn data network to conduct voice and video calls over the Viber messaging platform-RCS Based Platform provided by
Mavenir systems
Rakuten’s extensive ecosystem of over 70 services in e-commerce, fintech and digital content to offer customers a value proposition without
parallel in the market. The power of Rakuten’s brand with consumers and its existing customer base of over 100 million registered members
will provide a robust foundation for rapid growth.
INTRODUCTION-RAKUTEN MVNO –Mobile Virtual Network Operator

3. RAKUTEN- Making Impossible-Possible
NFVI: Network functions virtualization is a network architecture concept that uses the technologies of IT virtualization to virtualize entire classes of network node functions into building
blocks that may connect, or chain together, to create communication services.
SKU is short for 'Stock-keeping-Unit'. I

4. The diagram illustrates the architecture, with its key attributes and benefits highlighted below:
1. Open, Virtualized and Disaggregated RAN – Decoupling hardware and software in the radio access network – This innovative approach
enables deployment of very lean cell sites, with only antenna and remote radio heads, which in turn maximizes opportunities for successful
acquisition of cell sites. An increase in spectral efficiency is also being seen with coordinated radio processing through vRAN, scale
out architecture and cost reduction with open APIs that are enabled by a multi-vendor ecosystem.
2. Fully virtualized with common and distributed Telco Cloud – Shifting away from reliance on hardware and legacy infrastructure – Rakuten
Mobile Network will deploy a common, carrier-grade telco cloud for all virtualized applications from RAN to Core. This will include a common
orchestration layer on top and will be deployed in a highly distributed manner across thousands of locations. This foundation will enable high
efficiency from the converged infrastructure, reduce cost and drive operational simplicity and ability to repurpose, as well as increase the
speed of adding new apps and optimal scale out capability.
3. Mobile Edge Computing – Putting server-like devices closer to the computing need – Rakuten Mobile Network’s
innovative xEdge architecture, leveraging vRAN, Control & User Plane Separated (CUPS) packet core and distributed telco cloud, will enable
Mobile Edge Computing for both infrastructure functions and a variety of low latency services. Examples of such services include optimized
content delivery, live TV, connected cars, AR and VR, online gaming, connected stadiums and many more. While many players in the
telecommunications industry are looking at a similar capability with 5G, Rakuten Mobile Network will have the ability to offer services like this
with both 4G and 5G, enabling an optimal user experience.
4. 5G systems architecture based design from launch – Rakuten Mobile Network plans to deploy 5G systems architecture from launch. 5G
systems architecture elements such as Virtualization/NFV, vRAN, SDN, automation, Control-User Plane Separated (CUPS) packet core, edge
computing, slicing, scale & capacity etc. are all part of the launch-phase architecture. This creates the foundation for making the addition of
5G a simplified exercise that can be mostly completed through software upgrades, bringing unprecedented time-to-market benefits.
5. 5G enabled IPv6 transport/Mobile Backhaul Architecture – The mobile backhaul transport network is being built for launch with the capacity
and scale of 5G taken into account. The core of the network will have multi-terabit capacity and multiples of 100G of bandwidth will be made
available to the cell site pre-aggregation network, in stark contrast to existing global industry standards for deployment with either a 1G or
10G based network. Moreover, this network will be based on IPv6, enabling device scale in extremely large numbers to connect “everything,”
and avoiding address translation functions that are expensive and complex to operate.
RAKUTEN- Network Architectute

5. 6. SDN Enabled Centralized and Regional Datacenter Fabrics for 5G – The Central and Regional Software-Defined Data Center fabrics, where a
wide array of core and edge services will be hosted, are built for deployment from launch with 5G taken into account. With tens of terabits of
capacity, horizontal scale, automation and analytics, these data centers will become hubs of service delivery with unprecedented agility.
7. Common Hardware SKUs – Standardization and Simplification – A common problem for operators across the telco industry is maintenance of
hundreds of SKUs. Rakuten Mobile Network has less than 10 SKUs in order to enable infrastructure standardization, easy scale-out, simplified
operations and easier spares management, while maintaining a delicate balance between cost and performance.
8. End-to-End Infrastructure and Service Automation – Automation as a key part of the Rakuten Mobile Network strategy – Every network
infrastructure component and service will be automated to perform initial deployment and ongoing lifecycle management. This will minimize
operating expenditure and the labor required to deploy and operate the network in comparison to traditional operators. This will also remove
issues caused by human error and allow faster response to problems, eventually paving the way to auto-remediation.
9. Unified OSS/BSS – OSS silos are another common problem faced by traditional telco operators. Rakuten Mobile Network has adopted a
unified OSS strategy where one single OSS layer with next generation capabilities will be leveraged to enable true cross-domain service and
function management.
10. New Business Models – Opening up new ecosystems – By leveraging open and disaggregated architecture, Rakuten Mobile Network is
creating the foundation for the launch of new business models and the creation and expansion of ecosystems. The edge computing
architecture will also allow Rakuten Mobile Network to deliver Rakuten Group services in a new and innovative manner.
RAKUTEN- Network Architectute

6. RAKUTEN- Network Architecture

7. Media
Media Solutions
Business Area
Managed Services
Business Area
Digital Services
Business Area
Networks
Group Functions
Finance & Common Functions
Technology
Human Resources
Legal Affairs & Compliance
Marketing & Corporate Relations
North America
Europe and Latin America
Middle East and Africa
North East Asia
South East Asia, Oceania and India
Red Bee Media
Business Area
Technologies &
New Businesses
RAKUTEN Radio Innovation- NEC 5G RU

8. Altiostar announced that it is launching the world’s first container-based, cloud-native 5G radio
access network (RAN) software. The solution was developed in collaboration with Intel and will
be deployed with Rakuten Mobile in Japan.
The server platforms that drive the virtualization technologies in Rakuten Mobile’s network are
based on high-performance Intel® Xeon® Scalable Processors. As part of this project, Intel will
release various Kubernetes plugins that facilitate RAN and MEC application containers to be
deployed on Intel architecture.
The conversion from a virtual network function (VNF) to container network function (CNF) brings
additional flexibility and scalability. Each vRAN CNF provides scalability thereby allowing MNOs
to introduce Control Plane User Plane Separation (CUPS) architecture into their network, which
then allows them to size their deployments for the best economics knowing that they can easily
grow as their customer base grows or change or scale their network to accommodate user traffic
patterns.

9. Media
Media Solutions
Business Area
Managed Services
Business Area
Digital Services
Business Area
Networks
Group Functions
Finance & Common Functions
Technology
Human Resources
Legal Affairs & Compliance
Marketing & Corporate Relations
North America
Europe and Latin America
Middle East and Africa
North East Asia
South East Asia, Oceania and India
Red Bee Media
Business Area
Technologies &
New Businesses
RAKUTEN- Network Architecture- Cloud Native Platform

10. Media
Media Solutions
Business Area
Managed Services
Business Area
Digital Services
Business Area
Networks
CEO
Börje Ekhlm
Group Functions
Finance & Common Functions
Technology
Human Resources
Legal Affairs & Compliance
Marketing & Corporate Relations
North America
Europe and Latin America
Middle East and Africa
North East Asia
South East Asia, Oceania and India
Red Bee Media
Business Area
Technologies &
New Businesses
RAKUTEN- Network Architecture- Cloud Native Platform

11. RAKUTEN- Achievements & Impacts

12. Media
Media Solutions
Business Area
Managed Services
Business Area
Digital Services
Business Area
Networks
CO
Brje Ekhlm
Group Functions
Finance & Common Functions
Technology
Human Resources
Legal Affairs & Compliance
Marketing & Corporate Relations
North America
Europe and Latin America
Middle East and Africa
North East Asia
South East Asia, Oceania and India
Red Bee Media
Business Area
Technologies &
New Businesses
RAKUTEN- Cloud Native Rich Communication Solution

13. RAKUTEN- Cloud Native Rich Communication Solution

14. RAKUTEN- Cloud Native Rich Communication Solution

16. RAKUTEN- Cloud Native Rich Communication Solution

17. RAKUTEN- Cloud Native Rich Communication Solution Integration with Cisco NFVI Management-Core

18. References:
1. https://www.altiostar.com/products
2. https://global.rakuten.com/
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8Om-LT4cl8
Thanku….