Comprehensive cooperation including network virtualization technology
Sharing know-how on building a nationwide network based on OpenLAN

StageX, which has been confirmed as the 4th mobile carrier, has joined hands with Japan's Rakuten Mobile and Rakuten Symphony to build infrastructure and provide services for 28GHz 5G service.

Rakuten Mobile, Inc., Rakuten Symphony, Inc., and StageX, a new Korean mobile network operator, announced on the 2nd that they have signed a memorandum of understanding.

StageX stated, “Through this MOU, we aim to establish a comprehensive framework for strategic cooperation in all areas, including technology and business exchanges between Rakuten Mobile, Rakuten Symphony, and StageX, in preparation for providing 5G services in the 28GHz frequency band.”

Rakuten Mobile, a telecommunications company within the Rakuten Group, is Japan's fourth official telecommunications carrier. Aiming to become Japan's leading carrier, Rakuten Mobile has implemented the world's first nationwide 5G network based on Open RAN (Open RAN). It has approximately 60,000 4G base stations and over 10,000 5G base stations in Japan.

Rakuten Symphony, a subsidiary of Rakuten Mobile, provides cloud-based mobile technologies and integrates 80 services, including e-commerce and securities services.

The three companies stated that they are focusing on technological cooperation and business synergy. Rakuten Mobile and Rakuten Symphony stated that they will "share industry knowledge, expertise, and communication solutions, and discuss various aspects of StageX's upcoming projects, ranging from business operations to technology." Furthermore, the three companies plan to pursue cooperation from a long-term perspective, considering the expansion of mid-band frequencies and a nationwide 6G network.

StageX CEO Seo Sang-won stated, “Rakuten and StageX are committed to continuing their extensive collaboration. Rakuten Mobile, Japan’s leading mobile network operator, not only guarantees stable communication services but also has experience building and providing virtualized, cloud-native mobile networks. StageX will be able to continue discussions across a wide range of areas with Rakuten, which has experience building and providing 5G infrastructure and services based on the 28GHz frequency.”

“We are excited to be partnering with this new Korean mobile carrier,” said Sharad Sriwastawa, Co-CEO of Rakuten Mobile. “Through this MOU, we expect to not only create significant synergy between the two companies, but also create opportunities for industry change through StageX by leveraging the expertise of both companies,” he said.

“We are looking forward to creating a great opportunity to achieve further success with StageX based on Rakuten Symphony’s know-how and technological experience as an E2E solution provider that has successfully launched Rakuten Mobile as an official telecommunications company in Japan, one of the largest telecommunications markets, and has twice successfully built a nationwide network using OpenLAN for the first time in the world,” said Seunghyun Son, CEO of Rakuten Symphony Singapore and Korea.

Meanwhile, the StageX consortium includes financial investors (FIs) such as Shinhan Investment & Securities and leading companies in each industry, and is led by Stage Five, a former Kakao affiliate that has been driving innovation in MVNO services in Korea.