Tech & Innovation
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Blog
Rakuten launches unique, member-centric Ecosystem in the UK: Club Rakuten
Toby Otsuka, Rakuten Europe CEO When Rakuten began its journey into Europe a little over ten years ago, major cornerstones like our partnership with FC Barcelona, the availability of Rakuten TV in nearly every living room in the region and strong continent-wide brand recognition were still the stuff of dreams. Jump to 2020 and Rakuten is offering a variety of services to consumers and brands acros…
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Rakuten and stc are advancing mobile communications in the Middle East
The leading telco operator in the Middle East is looking to the future. In an agreement recently signed with Rakuten Mobile, Riyadh-based stc took a major step toward accelerating the delivery of mobile network services through the use of open technology — a move that could revolutionize wireless infrastructure for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This collaboration on mobile innovation aims to…
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Bringing 5G to the world: Rakuten Communications Platform
Rakuten Mobile’s revolutionary approach to telecommunications has been well documented. Doing what many thought impossible, the company designed and built the world’s first end-to-end cloud-native, fully virtualized mobile network and launched a 4G LTE service in Japan earlier this year during what many describe as the most challenging times of this century. Then, just six months later, the compan…
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Climb the highest mountain: Rakuten’s drone flies the Japanese Alps
The great Japanese Alps stretch from the Pacific Ocean all the way to the Sea of Japan, dividing Japan into east and west. At the northern tip of this mountain range towers Mt. Shirouma—and nestled in the valley below it, lies the village of Hakuba. While avid skiers may recognize Hakuba as a prime destination for Japan’s famous powder snow, during the off-season the town is a hotspot for hikers l…
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Rakuten Mobile launches 5G service: One simple plan combines 4G and 5G for no additional fees
Rakuten Mobile subscribers just got an exciting free upgrade: 5G. At an online press conference earlier today, Rakuten CEO Mickey Mikitani announced that the new Rakuten UN-LIMIT V plan would combine 4G and 5G services to offer current Rakuten UN-LIMIT 2.0 subscribers and new subscribers 5G connectivity for no extra cost. 5G services will roll out in key metropolitan areas in…
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Tech Mahindra and Rakuten Mobile collaborate to take Rakuten Communications Platform global
Having already deployed a futuristic cellular network in Japan, Rakuten Mobile is now bringing the expertise and experience it has gained to the rest of the world. A key partner in that endeavor is the India-based IT services company, Tech Mahindra. The two high-tech companies have forged an agreement that makes Tech Mahindra a preferred partner for global deployments of the Rakuten Communications…
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Are Japan’s supermarkets finally going online?
Japan is a very convenient country — a quick stroll down any Tokyo street is enough to see that. With a konbini on every second corner and a herd of vending machines on every other, one is rarely left wanting for food or drink. This convenience could be one reason online grocery shopping has never quite taken off like it has in Europe or North America. In October 2018, Rakuten set out to…
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Future-proofing 5G: Rakuten Mobile and Telefónica team up to transform cellular tech
One of the largest telecoms groups in the world has spoken out in favor of new mobile evolution that promises to make cellular technology far more flexible and cost-effective. Madrid-based Telefónica and Rakuten Mobile have signed a memorandum of understanding that will see them work together to advance OpenRAN (radio access network) technology, 5G core networks and operations support systems…
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This could arguably become the greatest comeback in the history of sports
Rahul Kadavakolu, Global Sports Business and Global Brand Supervisory Department, Rakuten, Inc. After World War I, the Spanish flu devastated global sports. Multiple sources recount cancellations of soccer and boxing matches. The hockey Stanley Cup final was called off. While professional baseball struggled on, legendary star Babe Ruth was emerging as one of the world’s greatest players when…
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