What's Happening?
Rakuten Symphony has been awarded a subsidy of approximately $2.14 million by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to support the development of open RAN trials in Ukraine. This initiative is part of a larger project valued at $4.34
million, aimed at enhancing Ukraine's telecommunications infrastructure through virtualized open RAN technology. The grant is part of METI's Subsidy Program for Future-Oriented Co-creation Projects with the Global South, focusing on Ukraine's reconstruction and collaboration with Central and Eastern European countries. Rakuten Symphony, in partnership with Rakuten Mobile, plans to establish a cloud-native open RAN environment in Ukraine to validate the deployment of flexible, cost-effective networks. The project is expected to be completed by May 31, 2027.
Why It's Important?
The grant and subsequent project are significant as they aim to rebuild and modernize Ukraine's telecommunications infrastructure, which has been impacted by ongoing conflict. By implementing open RAN technology, the project seeks to provide Ukrainian telecom operators with a more flexible and cost-efficient network solution. This could enhance the resilience and autonomy of Ukraine's telecom networks, contributing to the country's economic recovery. The collaboration with Kyivstar, Ukraine's largest telecom operator, further underscores the strategic importance of this initiative in transforming next-generation networks in the region.
What's Next?
Following the approval of the subsidy, Rakuten Symphony and Kyivstar will move into the field-testing phase of their open RAN collaboration. This phase will involve conducting open RAN 4G LTE field tests around Kyiv to assess performance in a live network environment. The project will also explore 5G capabilities in a dedicated lab setting, laying the groundwork for potential future commercial deployment. The successful implementation of this project could serve as a model for similar initiatives in other regions, promoting the adoption of open RAN technology globally.
