Rakuten Mobile boosts 5G O‑RAN rollout with 1Finity radio kits

Rakuten Mobile announced today that it is extending its 5G open‑RAN (O‑RAN) footprint by deploying 1Finity’s radio kits across new sites in Japan. The move deepens the carrier’s commitment to a fully disaggregated network architecture and signals growing confidence in open‑source‑driven telecom solutions.

Core developments

According to RCR Wireless News, the deployment adds a significant number of 1Finity radios to Rakuten’s existing 5G portfolio, allowing the operator to replace traditional, vendor‑locked hardware with open‑RAN components that can be programmed and upgraded through software. Telecom Reseller / Technology Reseller News echoes the announcement, noting that the new radios are part of an ongoing effort to scale the carrier’s O‑RAN network while maintaining the performance levels required for high‑capacity 5G services.

SDxCentral highlights that the 1Finity kit includes both radio units and the associated software stack that conforms to the O‑RAN Alliance specifications. The kit is designed to interoperate with Rakuten’s cloud‑native core, which the operator has been operating since its launch in 2020. By using a common open interface, Rakuten can source radio hardware from multiple suppliers, reducing reliance on a single OEM and fostering a more competitive ecosystem.

Light Reading points out that 1Finity’s involvement with Rakuten is part of a broader commercial rollout that the company is pursuing with other operators worldwide. The vendor’s open‑RAN solution, described as “carrier‑grade,” aims to deliver the same reliability and latency benchmarks traditionally associated with proprietary equipment.

In parallel, Business Wire reports that 1Finity has launched an Open Networking Innovation Center in the Americas. The center is intended to accelerate collaboration with carriers, system integrators, and academia, providing a testbed for open‑RAN technologies and fostering the development of new use cases. While the center is based in the United States, its creation underscores the global momentum behind open networking, a trend that Rakuten’s deployment exemplifies.

Rakuten Mobile’s broader network strategy also received validation from the TM Forum, which confirmed that the carrier achieved Level 4 autonomy—a benchmark indicating advanced self‑optimizing capabilities. Telecompaper notes that this validation demonstrates Rakuten’s ability to automate many network functions, a prerequisite for managing the complexity of a large, disaggregated O‑RAN footprint.

Why it matters

The expansion of O‑RAN at Rakuten Mobile carries several implications for the Japanese telecom market and the global industry. First, it provides a real‑world, large‑scale example of how an operator can transition from legacy, monolithic base stations to a modular, software‑defined architecture without sacrificing service quality. Japan’s dense urban environments and high data demand make it a rigorous proving ground; success here could encourage other carriers to adopt similar approaches.

Second, the partnership reduces entry barriers for new hardware vendors. By adhering to open interfaces, 1Finity’s radios can be mixed and matched with equipment from other suppliers, fostering competition that may drive down costs. This aligns with the O‑RAN Alliance’s goal of creating a more diverse supplier ecosystem, which could ultimately benefit consumers through lower prices and faster innovation cycles.

Third, the move dovetails with Rakuten’s broader digital strategy, which leverages its e‑commerce and fintech platforms to offer bundled services. A flexible, cloud‑native network enables rapid roll‑out of new features—such as edge‑computing services for gaming or IoT applications—without the long lead times associated with traditional hardware upgrades.

Finally, the deployment showcases the maturation of open‑source telecom software. The fact that a carrier as large as Rakuten can rely on an open‑RAN stack for commercial 5G service delivery signals that the software components have reached a level of stability and performance previously reserved for proprietary solutions.

Reactions and viewpoints

Industry observers have praised the partnership as a milestone for open networking. Light Reading suggests that 1Finity’s success with Rakuten could accelerate similar deals in Europe and North America, where operators are under pressure to reduce CAPEX and OPEX. Analysts quoted by RCR Wireless News note that the collaboration illustrates how carriers can achieve vendor diversification while maintaining a unified operational model.

Conversely, some experts caution that large‑scale O‑RAN deployments still face challenges related to integration testing, supply‑chain coordination, and ensuring consistent quality of service across heterogeneous hardware. Telecom Reseller / Technology Reseller News references ongoing industry discussions about standardization gaps that could affect interoperability in multi‑vendor environments.

From a regulatory perspective, Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has expressed support for open‑RAN initiatives, viewing them as a way to enhance national security by reducing dependence on a single foreign supplier. The government’s policy stance, while not detailed in the sources, is reflected in the broader strategic context cited by multiple outlets.

What’s next

Rakuten Mobile plans to continue scaling its O‑RAN network throughout the remainder of the year, adding more 1Finity sites and integrating additional software features that support autonomous network management. The carrier’s recent TM Forum Level 4 autonomy validation suggests that further automation—such as self‑healing and predictive maintenance—will be layered onto the expanded radio infrastructure.

1Finity, meanwhile, is leveraging its new Open Networking Innovation Center to refine its radio designs and collaborate with other operators exploring open‑RAN deployments. The center is expected to host joint trials that could showcase new use cases, including private‑network solutions for enterprises and low‑latency edge services.

For the broader telecom ecosystem, Rakuten’s rollout serves as a benchmark. As more carriers assess the economics of open‑RAN, the industry may see a shift toward standardized, software‑centric networks that can be more easily upgraded to support emerging technologies such as 6G. The coming months will reveal whether the performance and cost metrics achieved by Rakuten and 1Finity can be replicated at scale across diverse market conditions.