Rakuten wesentlich besser als Rocket

As a strategic partner of Rakuten Symphony, Qucell Networks offers a comprehensive suite of commercialized small cell solutions, empowering connectivity and beyond.

Sercomm
Sercomm is a main supplier and solution partner to Rakuten Symphony for O-RAN small cell/5G CPE and other advanced technologies.

Supermicro
Supermicro, a global technology leader in Enterprise, Cloud, AI, and 5G Telco/Edge IT Infrastructure, collaborates with Rakuten Symphony on servers for core and Open RAN, deploying a highly automated cloud-native network solution.

Tata Communications
Tata Communications provides end-to-end Private 5G network solutions to large enterprises globally, as a service, powered by the industry’s best-of-breed product stack. The company’s Private 5G cloud-native workloads are tested and verified on Symcloud platform.

symphony.rakuten.com/about/partner

I believe the investment of Rakuten in this company was an excellent decision

ai-med.jp/

Rakuten is on track for near 10 million mobile customers in 2024.

Dell Validated Design for Analytics enables easy setup of data lakehouse solutions using Rakuten Symphony Symcloud platform and Intel-powered Dell servers and storage.

networkbuilders.intel.com/docs/...ud-analytics-1699358077.pdf

US-Headquartered Airalo Secures US$60 Million in A Series B Round Led By e& CapitalAiralo empowers travelers with seamless access to mobile networks.

AUG 2, 2023

Airalo, a US-headquartered eSIM marketplace that makes global connectivity accessible and affordable for travelers worldwide, has raised US$60 million in a Series B round led by e& Capital, the investment arm of UAE-based e&.

Other participating investors include Antler Elevate, Liberty Global, Orange, T.Capital, Rakuten Capital, Singtel Innov8, Telefónica Ventures, Sequoia Capital India and South East Asia's Surge (now known as Peak XV Partners), KPN Ventures, and I2BF Global Ventures.

This Series B capital injection will help Airalo to expand its community of users and its global team, as well as to introduce Airalo Partners, a connectivity solution tailored to businesses and organizations across the globe.

www.entrepreneur.com/en-ae/finance/...ed-airalo-raises/456764


Airalo
Cost: Free to download
Stay connected in over 200 countries and regions. Install an eSIM and get online in minutes with no roaming fees.
Especially handy if you’re travelling through different countries, Airalo allows you to use different eSim cards to keep your data roaming costs down. The App is free to download, and then simply choose the country you’re in, and select a data plan depending on how long you're there and how much you’ll be using your phone. You can often save around £10 for a week's holiday.

www.cntraveller.com/article/best-travel-apps

New Year Gold Debut Offer – Rakuten Securities Japan

Rakuten Securities Japan Get 10 points for each 1,000 JPY deposited to the account backed with Gold, Silver, or Platinum during the promotional period. Redeemed the points with an exchange for benefits with Rakuten.

Ending Date: December 31, 2023

Offer is Applicable: New and existing clients.

allforexbonus.com/...kuten-securities-japan-gold-debut-offer/

The financial situation of Rakuten is excellent
The company is looking to redeem a JPY 68 billion subordinated bond on its Dec. 13 first call date, and faces an additional JPY 321 billion of bond maturities in 2024.

Requirements to fund negative cash flow from its mobile businesses and capex will be not higher than the positive cash flow from the other businesses.

Standalone holdco cash stood at JPY 199.49 billion as of Sept. 30 - which does not include the JPY 87 billion raised in November 2023.

On Nov. 9, Rakuten announced that Rakuten Securities Holdings and Mizuho Securities entered into a share transfer agreement for Mizuho Securities to purchase 29.01% of shares in Rakuten Securities, Inc. for JPY 87 billion on the same day. Following the acquisition, Mizuho Securities’ stake in Rakuten Securities will rise from 19.99% to 49%, while the remaining 51% will continue to be held by Rakuten Securities Holdings.

Japan's Rakuten to raise up to $433 mln (= JPY 64 billion) with further sale of bank unit in December 2023.

Additional $ 500 million (about JPY 74 million) could come from a sale/IPO of the ownership of Cabify.

www.reorg.com/rakuten-group-faces-jpy-105b-domestic-bond/

www.reuters.com/technology/...ank-offshore-market-2023-12-06/

JPY 1600

Bitcoin: Einkäufe als Rakuten-Kunde mit BTC zahlen

13. November 2023

Rakuten Wallet meets Rakuten Pay

Rakuten gehört zu den größten Einzelhandelsunternehmen in Japan und ist bekannt für seine Offenheit gegenüber Kryptowährungen. Gemäß einer Mitteilung des Unternehmens vom 24. Februar ist es Nutzern von Rakuten Pay ab sofort möglich, ihre Kryptowährungen direkt von Rakuten Wallet auf die Bezahl-App zu laden. Auf Wunsch können Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash und Ethereum zum täglichen Bezahlen automatisch in japanische Yen umgetauscht werden.

Rakuten Pay ist eine mobile Zahlungs-App und nur in Japan nutzbar. Seit der Ersteinführung im Jahre 2012 wird Rakuten Pay mittlerweile von einem Großteil mittelgroßer und großer Einzelhändler unterstützt.

blockchainwelt.de/...anern%2520recht%2520weit%2520verbreitet.

Seven key points for popularizing Open RAN and V-RAN

6 Nov 2023

Telecommunications carriers around the world are commencing their trial runs for properly implementing Open RAN and V-RAN technologies, with the expectation that investment outlay on base stations required for mobile networks will be significantly reduced.

This article summarizes the seven key points for popularizing these RAN technologies, and also explores the various new business opportunities that await relevant stakeholders.

In brief

With the implementation and adoption of Open RAN and V-RAN technologies, telecommunications carriers can expect reductions in capital expenditure costs, operational costs, supply chain risks, and operational risks.

Especially during these early stages of implementation, we believe the enhancement of initiatives aimed at commercializing the offerings of each technology are the keys to achieving their widespread adoption. These initiatives include enticing as many businesses as possible to form and participate in businesses alliances, as well as the active formulation of specifications and the development of product services.

The shift to a multi-vendor environment and to software-based systems is expected to present new business opportunities for a wide range of stakeholders.

www.ey.com/en_jp/tmt/...2C%2520and%2520operational%2520risks.

Rakuten presents new payments terminal, and makes Rakuten Cash & Rakuten Edi interchangeable

Norbert Gehrke Jul 30, 2023

Rakuten Pay Terminal is an all-in-one payment terminal equipped with credit card, e-money, QR code payment, receipt printer, mobile communication (4G LTE) and Wi-Fi communication functions. The all-in-one terminal eliminates the need for multiple terminals to be placed in a limited space at the checkout counter, making the area around the checkout counter more compact.

n addition, the size and weight of the terminal, which is designed to be portable and equipped with communication functions, makes it possible to handle all kinds of payment situations with a single unit, such as table service at restaurants and outdoor use at events, as well as door-to-door sales. Merchants requiring mobile data communication can use plans for the terminal provided by Rakuten Mobile.

The terminal, normally sold for JPY 34,800 plus tax, features no monthly fees or other fixed costs, incurs a uniform settlement fee of 3.24% regardless of the size of the business’s sales or the type of business, and the earliest possible next-business-day transfer of sales proceeds for Rakuten Bank customers, two-day settlement otherwise.

Rakuten Group has been operating two e-money systems, Rakuten Cash and Rakuten Edy, and in October 2022, Rakuten Group launched a function to top up Rakuten Edy with Rakuten Cash. With the launch of this new function, the reverse direction has been enabled as well, and the two e-money services are now fully interchangeable.

By topping up Rakuten Cash with Rakuten Edy, users will be able to use “Rakuten Edy” online at Rakuten Ichiba and other Rakuten Group services, and offline at over 6 million locations nationwide via the “Rakuten Pay” application.

medium.com/tokyo-fintech/...20and%2520%E2%80%9CElan%E2%80%9D.

Two important growth-drivers for the subscriptions of Rakuten Mobile

The company is also promoting initiatives that enable Rakuten Mobile subscribers to derive even greater value from Rakuten Group services. From December 1, 2023, after a change to the Super Point Up Program, which scales up the amount of Rakuten Points earned on Rakuten Ichiba according to the number of Rakuten Group services being used, all Rakuten SAIKYO Plan users earn a rate of 5% on Rakuten Ichiba purchases every day, regardless of membership rank.

Furthermore, the Rakuten Mobile Referral Campaign, which was launched in February 2023, helps to reward users who promote Rakuten Mobile to their friends and family. As part of the campaign, referrers earn 7,000 Rakuten Points while the referred customer earns 6,000 Rakuten Points. The initiative has increased the number of new Rakuten Mobile subscribers, drawing in over 150,000 participants to date.

www.thefastmode.com/...subscribers-for-mobile-carrier-service

Canon MJ bildet Kapital- und Geschäftsallianz mit der aufstrebenden AWL der Universität Hokkaido
Elektronik

22. August 2023 18:54

Canon Marketing Japan ist eine Kapital- und Geschäftsallianz mit AWL (Chiyoda, Tokio) eingegangen, einem Unternehmen, das Bilder mithilfe von künstlicher Intelligenz (KI) analysiert. Durch die Zusammenarbeit hofft das Unternehmen, Bilder von Kameras in Einzelhandelsgeschäften zu analysieren und die betriebliche Effizienz wie Produktlieferung und Kassenservice zu verbessern.

Die beiden Unternehmen unterzeichneten bis zum 22. eine Kapital- und Geschäftsallianz. Canon MJ hat in AWL investiert, aber die Höhe seiner Investition nicht bekannt gegeben. Obwohl der Einsatz von Video, einschließlich Sicherheitskameras, in Geschäften bereits Fortschritte macht, wird sie in Wirklichkeit noch nicht zur Verkaufsförderung und zum Marketing eingesetzt. Durch den Einsatz von Video zur Analyse der Verkaufsflächensituation im Geschäft und des Kundenverhaltens wird es zu einer Lösung für den gravierenden Arbeitskräftemangel im Einzelhandel führen.

Owl ist ein 2016 gegründetes Startup der Universität Hokkaido und hat Stärken in der KI-Videoanalyse für Geschäfte. Im Jahr 21 sammelte das Unternehmen 2 Milliarden Yen durch eine Zuteilung von Aktien durch Dritte, die von vier Unternehmen gezeichnet wurden, darunter das Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) der Rakuten Group. Es hat auch Investitionen von Safie und Tohoku University Venture Partners erhalten.

www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC224N60S3A820C2000000/

www.rakuten-bank.co.jp/corp/english/...23_IR_Presentation.pdf

Earn More Amex Membership Rewards Points by Using Rakuten

Published on Dec. 7, 2023

www.fool.com/the-ascent/credit-cards/...nts-by-using-rakuten/

I believe, the complete company will reach the break even in 2024, because the losses of Rakuten Mobile in 2024 will be lower than the gains of the two other sectors in 2024.

Rakuten Mobile reported  about 5.1 million customers by the end of Q3/23. But on December 28, Rakuten reported about more than 6 million customers. That is  in an increase of about 900,000 in Q4/23.  The monthly rate of growth from about 100,000 new customerin Q3/23 had incrased to 300,000 in Q4/23.

the number of subscriptions of Rakuten Mobile will be 9.6 million at the end of 2024.

I contradict the message of this report, that Rakuten Mobile will need 3  years to reach 10 million of subscribers, because after my estimates this will happen in Q1/2025.

Japan Telecoms Industry Report 2023-2030 - Japanese Three-player Mobile Market is Set to be Rocked by Fourth Market Entrant - Rakuten Mobile

The publisher forecasts Rakuten could capture up to 10m subscribers in 3 years by offering lower pricing, e-Commerce bundling and other lifestyle services to its existing 100 million Rakuten customers, while KDDI and to a lesser extent NTT and Softbank already embarked on such journey.

finance.yahoo.com/news/...industry-report-2023-164500546.html

Sercomm Corporation and Rakuten Symphony Partnership: Transforming Connectivity

14.12.2023

Ben Lin, President & Co-founder at Sercomm Corporation, share insights into his role and delves into the dynamic collaboration between Sercomm Corporation and Rakuten Symphony to develop the world's first virtualized small cell, redefining the landscape of cellular technology.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr9w1-LRvgI

Da der Einlagensaldo der Rakuten Bank (nicht konsolidiert) 9 Billionen Yen überschritten hat, hat die Rakuten Bank die Qualität ihrer Dienstleistungen weiter verbessert, indem sie die Anzahl der Kunden erhöht hat, die Lastschriftzahlungen für Stromrechnungen abwickeln können, sowie die Anzahl der Kunden, die Steuern und Stromrechnungen in Zahlungsdiensten wie Rakuten Bank Convenience Store Payment Service (Einzahlungsscheinzahlung mit der App) und Pay-easy bezahlen können. Aufgrund der verschiedenen Initiativen der Rakuten Bank und der Tatsache, dass viele Kunden die Konten der Rakuten Bank als Konten für den täglichen Lebensunterhalt nutzen, haben wir jetzt die Marke von 10 Billionen Yen überschritten.

Die Rakuten Bank wird ihren Kunden weiterhin attraktive Produkte und Dienstleistungen anbieten.
www.rakuten-bank.co.jp/press/2023/240104.html

JANUARY 4, 2024 BY ADMIN

From M&A to open RAN: 5 things to watch in Europe in 2024

Open RAN has not yet set the world alight, but it picked up pace in Europe in 2023, and indications are that we should see further deployments of the technology in 2024.

For example, Deutsche Telekom has just kicked off its rollout of multi vendor open RAN technology in Germany in collaboration with Fujitsu and Nokia, building on existing trials in the operator’s O RAN Town in Neubrandenburg near Berlin, and a Memorandum of Understanding signed at last year’s Mobile World Congress. DT said it plans to operate more than 3,000 O-RAN-compatible antenna sites by the end of 2026.

Also in Germany, greenfield operator 1&1 AG announced it is now operating Europe’s first fully virtualized 5G network based on open RAN technology. Although the network is still very small, 1&1’s ambition is to become the fourth mobile network operator in the market underpinned by a new kind of network infrastructure, with support from Rakuten Symphony, Mavenir and others.

In terms of open RAN announcements, Vodafone has been one of the more active operators to date, with more to come. Indeed, the operator made a splash at last year’s Telecom Infra Project (TIP) in Madrid, among other things confirming that it is on track with its goal to deploy 2,500 open RAN sites.
Furthermore, Vodafone seems to have adopted the role of global open RAN cheerleader. During the TIP event, Andrea Dona, chief network officer with Vodafone UK, said that the open RAN work in the U.K. is a “blueprint for success” and that Vodafone can “lift and shift” it to other parts of its global footprint.

isp.page/news/...things-to-watch-in-europe-in-2024/#gsc.tab=0

Umsatz von Rakuten weltweit vom 1. Quartal 2014 bis zum 3. Quartal 2023(in Milliarden Yen)
Umsatz von Rakuten nach Quartalen weltweit bis zum 3. Quartal 2023

Veröffentlicht von L. Lohmeier, 03.01.2024

Im dritten Quartal 2023 hat das Internetunternehmen Rakuten einen Umsatz in Höhe von rund 518 Milliarden Yen erwirtschaftet. Dies entspricht einem Umsatzwachstum von knapp zehn Prozent im Vergleich zum Vorjahresquartal.

de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/...ten-nach-quartalen/

05 Oct 2023 00:30

Rakuten shares fell 80% due to ¥1.3tn Mobile losses. Expecting growth with platinum band access and KDDI aggrement. Anticipate Mobile profitability in 2024, against consensus ¥200bn loss projection.

Oshadhi (Lead Analyst Covering the Japanese Retail Sector at LightStream Research) has highlighted this Insight as a Top Pick

www.smartkarma.com/insights/...-be-churning-profits-next-year

www.mordorintelligence.com/de/...eports/japan-mattress-market

Zu den wichtigsten im Bericht vorgestellten Marktteilnehmern gehören:
Therapedic International, Airweave, Sleep Number, Pacific Coast Feather Co., Tempur Sealy International, Fabtex, Serta Simmons Bedding, Mlily Home Technology

www.blattonline.de/uncategorised/...-und-prognose-2030/17421/