Rakuten Today: Tech & Innovation

Blog

Many of the world’s most advanced companies, including Rakuten, run their businesses almost entirely in the cloud, which is more worthwhile.

2 days ago

Mobile Tech Explained: Cloud infrastructure

This article is part of a series breaking down the complex systems and technologies that make up the Rakuten Mobile network and Rakuten Communications Platform. In this edition, we speak with Ryota Mibu, division manager for infrastructure platforms at Rakuten Mobile, Inc. The cloud is one of the defining technologies of the twenty-first century – it has put vast computing resources at the fingert…

Blog

New ownership structure enables Rakuten, KKR and Seiyu to accelerate digital transformation to further benefit both Seiyu’s customers and business partners.

6 days ago

Rakuten and Seiyu are leading the digital transformation of Japanese supermarkets

Japan’s supermarkets are undergoing a digital transformation. In November 2020, Rakuten, global investment firm KKR and Walmart announced the signing of definitive agreements under which KKR will purchase a majority stake and a new Rakuten subsidiary will purchase a minority stake in prominent Japanese supermarket chain Seiyu. Under the terms of the agreements, KKR will acquire a 65% stake in Seiy…

Blog

Rakuten Europe has partnered with Asia Africa Investment & Consulting (AAIC) to help African startups apply innovative solutions to social challenges.

2 weeks ago

Supporting African startups through new collaboration: Rakuten & AAIC

In late 2020, Rakuten Europe announced a new collaborative initiative with Asia Africa Investment & Consulting Pte. Ltd. (AAIC). The initiative aims to support African startups ⁠— especially those eager to apply innovative solutions that will effectively leapfrog their local economies to higher stages of development faster and more efficiently than previously possible. Shigeru Handa, director…

Blog

We face some of the most serious threats to social & environmental wellbeing in a generation. Rakuten is well on the journey to address these challenges.

December 18, 2020

Journey to a better future: Putting sustainability goals into action

Mark Haviland, EVP of Brand Development & Sustainability, Rakuten EMEA When Mickey Mikitani founded Rakuten in 1997, empowerment was at the heart of his vision. Empowering business owners, employees, families and communities is a passion that persists to this day. Now that passion takes on new meaning, as we face some of the most serious threats to our social and environmental well-being in a…

Tech & Innovation

December 18, 2020

Mobile Tech Explained: Autonomous networks

This article is the first in a new series that aims to break down the complex systems and technologies behind the Rakuten Mobile network and Rakuten Communications Platform. In this edition, we speak with Dr. Petrit Nahi, Head of Data Science at Rakuten Mobile, Inc. Ever since mobile networks were first deployed more than three decades ago, their infrastructure has required constant monitoring fro…

Blog

From inspecting base stations with drones to embracing world-first technology, here's how Rakuten Mobile has disrupted the mobile industry in 2020.

December 15, 2020

6 reasons Rakuten Mobile became the telco to watch in 2020

When Rakuten CEO Mickey Mikitani first began calling out Japan’s incumbent mobile companies for their high price plans, few could have predicted how far and how fast the company would come in its pursuit of “democratizing the mobile industry.” But here we are at the tail end of 2020, looking back on a remarkable year of progress. Here are six ways Rakuten Mobile has disrupted the mobile industry i…

Blog

Dr. Pierre Imai, Paul Harvey and Rakuten Mobile scientists are developing autonomous networks for the future of telecommunications.

December 11, 2020

Rakuten Mobile scientists build the future of telecommunications with autonomous networking

In April 2020, Rakuten Mobile made history by launching the world’s first fully virtualized cloud-native mobile network. The company’s ambitious undertakings have attracted global talent from all corners of the telecommunications industry and beyond, each with their own ideas on how to push this revolutionary network even further. Dr. Pierre Imai joined Rakuten as Principal Scientist for the…

Blog

Introducing the Rakuten Hand, a slim smartphone perfect for one-handed use and the Rakuten WiFi Pocket, Rakuten Mobile’s first original Wi-Fi router.

December 8, 2020

Behind the development of Rakuten Mobile’s original devices – Part two: Rakuten BIG and Rakuten WiFi Pocket

On December 8, 2020, Rakuten Mobile announced two new products in its lineup of original devices: the Rakuten Hand, a slim smartphone perfect for one-handed use and the Rakuten WiFi Pocket, Rakuten Mobile’s first original Wi-Fi router. We spoke with the team overseeing the planning and development of these devices: Masashi Onogi, Hajime Seki, Kosuke Yajima and Kazuyuki Sato of Rakuten Mobile’s Dev…

Blog

A behind-the-scenes look at the development of Rakuten Mobile's original devices. Part 1 focuses on the Rakuten Mini and the Rakuten Hand.

December 8, 2020

Behind the development of Rakuten Mobile’s original devices — Part one: Rakuten Mini and Rakuten Hand

On December 8, 2020, Rakuten Mobile announced two new products in its lineup of original devices: the Rakuten Hand, a slim smartphone perfect for one-handed use and the Rakuten WiFi Pocket, Rakuten Mobile’s first original Wi-Fi router. We spoke with the team overseeing the planning and development of these devices: Masashi Onogi, Hajime Seki, Kosuke Yajima and Kazuyuki Sato of Rakuten Mobile’s Dev…

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