CNBC: Rakuten from Japan makes its first mobile venture into Europe
– Rakuten and German 1&1 launched a new mobile network
– New joint network is based on Open RAN technology
– Rakuten provides the technology; 1&1 manages the network
– Open RAN opens the list of equipment vendors
– It runs on the cloud and requires less “hardware”
– Rakuten aims to launch more Open RAN networks in 2024
– The company is focused on the profitability of mobile communications
– Mobile revenue grew by 5% to $615 million in Q3 2023
– Losses from the mobile division amounted to approximately $564 million
– But the company is adding 200 thousand mobile customers per month
– This could become Rakuten’s most profitable business
