Rakuten wesentlich besser als Rocket

Road to Open RAN: How AI & Cloud Are Powering Telecom Transformation  Rakuten Symphony x NTT Docomo

December 10, 2025

AI, cloud, and Open RAN are redefining how telecom networks scale and integrate. Rakuten Symphony and NTT Docomo leaders share insights on achieving agility, automation, and cost efficiency while overcoming multi-vendor and legacy integration challenges.

Speakers:
Yoshihiro Nakajima – Director, Network Virtualization Platform, NTT Docomo
Atila Horvat – Head of Portfolio Strategy, Rakuten Symphony

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxw1cbmGMo8&t=16s

Value of the about 31 million AST-shares of Rakuten is about $ 3.2 billion.

That's about $ 1.50 for any of the about 2.15 billion shares of Rakuten.

Rakuten Securities announced that investment trust balances exceed 20 trillion yen and 5 million investment trust reserve holders
- Balance doubles in about 1 year and 7 months! –

January 9, 2026

www.rakuten-sec.co.jp/web/company/newsrelease/fy2026.html

Rakuten Mobile Achieves Top Satisfaction Ranking for Three Consecutive Years
Rakuten Mobile Achieves Unprecedented Customer Satisfaction


Rakuten Mobile Inc., a major player in the telecommunications sector, has achieved remarkable recognition in the "2025 Oricon Customer Satisfaction Survey on Mobile Carriers." For three consecutive years, Rakuten Mobile has clinched the top position overall, excelling in eight out of nine evaluation categories. This prestigious accolade, awarded by Oricon Inc. based in Tokyo, underscores Rakuten Mobile's commitment to delivering superior customer service and innovative solutions.

third-news.com/article/04e9f002-ce81-11f0-96c2-9ca3ba0a67df

Cabify is an app-based platform offering ride-hailing services. Users can book their ride by providing location, passenger details, and more. It offers features like real-time tracking, in-app payments, door-step service, and more. Also, it offers ride-hailing services for corporates. The mobile app is available for both Android and iOS devices.

Key facts about Cabify
Founded Year: 2011
Location: Madrid (Spain)
Stage: Series E
Total Funding till date: $517M
Investors: Rakuten Capital, Seaya and 40 Others
Latest Funding Round: Venture Debt, Jan 11, 2024, $*****
Tracxn Score: 79/100 What is this?
Competitors Rank: 2 of 248 Competitors

tracxn.com/d/trending-business-models/...ies#t-4-hopskipdrive

AI-RAN Begins the Shift from Concept to Fruition Across Africa

Posted on  January 8, 2026

AI-RAN is also critical for supporting network-as-a-service (NaaS) models and 5G monetization. As 5G networks expand, operators need to offer differentiated services beyond basic connectivity. AI-RAN enables operators to deliver on-demand network slices, edge computing capabilities, and IoT services, without requiring enterprises to invest heavily in infrastructure. This flexibility allows telecom providers to create new revenue streams, reduce capital expenditures, and provide scalable services to businesses and consumers alike.

This year, Telkom Kenya and Rakuten Symphony signed a memorandum of understanding to test Open RAN technology in Kenya, which will help support automation and AI-powered innovation in 5G network operation and future IoT deployments.

Despite its advantages, AI-RAN adoption comes with challenges. Implementing AI requires robust data collection, advanced analytics, and reliable computational infrastructure. Smaller operators may face resource constraints, while regulatory compliance and data privacy remain critical.
For Africa, specifically, partnering with global technology vendors, cloud providers, and AI specialists could help operators overcome these barriers, enabling cost-effective deployment and faster time-to-value.

www.telecomreviewafrica.com/articles/...uition-across-africa/

Rakuten Viber officially announces partnership with DoubleVerify

14/1/2026

Rakuten Viber officially announced a partnership with DoubleVerify to improve the transparency and efficiency of business advertising activities in the Viber application.

Currently, tens of thousands of brands around the world are choosing Viber as an effective advertising channel to reach a group of highly engaged users. DoubleVerify's technology integration helps brands accurately track where ads are shown, assess visibility and recognition, and provide detailed data on campaign performance.

Thereby, advertisers have more basis to optimize budgets and improve communication efficiency. This cooperation also contributes to protecting brand reputation in the context of increasing concerns about ad fraud and display quality in the digital advertising market.

According to the latest statistics from DV Fraud Lab, the traffic of invalid ads generated by bots has increased by 86%. Besides, 6 out of 10 advertisers said their top concern is where and in the context of the content. In the face of this reality, Rakuten Viber's cooperation with DoubleVerify is considered a strategic step, to ensure that advertising campaigns are implemented in a safe, appropriate and transparent environment.

Through its partnership with DoubleVerify, Rakuten Viber continues to affirm its long-term commitment to building a safe, transparent, and sustainable digital advertising ecosystem, while bringing practical value to advertisers, partners, and users around the globe.

baomoi.com/...-cong-bo-hop-tac-voi-doubleverify-c54254955.epi

AST SpaceMobile Stock Jumps on Securing Role in U.S. Defense Program

Fri, January 16, 2026

AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS) shares jumped more than 15% on Friday trading after the satellite communications company secured a prime contract position tied to a U.S. defense program.
The company was named among firms eligible to compete for work under the Missile Defense Agency's Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense, or SHIELD, program, according to a Thursday press release.

SHIELD is part of the U.S. government's broader Golden Dome strategy, which aims to strengthen layered defenses across air, missile, space, cyber, and hybrid threat domains. The program is designed to support next-generation technologies that can operate across multiple environments.

finance.yahoo.com/news/...stock-jumps-securing-182601495.html

Rakuten Viber's revenue is estimated to be in the range of
$500 million to $1 billion annually. Specific financial reports for January 2026 are not yet available, as these are typically released quarterly by the parent company, Rakuten Group, Inc.

The most recent reported financial performance for the larger "International business unit" (which includes Rakuten Viber) showed revenue of $486.9 million for Q3 FY2025 (ended September 30, 2025), a 5.4% increase year-over-year.

www.google.com/...oHsfXnrX6Nli0pxHRq-IAZ2njy4pT2I&csuir=1

www.instagram.com/reel/DTRp3KtESXv/

Japan and ASEAN want to build a cooperative ecosystem. This will speed up technology progress. They also aim to tackle the ethical, legal, and social issues of AI.

This agreement strengthens Japan’s ties with Southeast Asian countries. Tokyo wants to expand partnerships beyond its usual markets. It also plans to work together on new technologies for the future.

What This Cooperation Means for Japan’s Tech Industry

Japan’s economy thrives on top-notch manufacturing and advanced electronics. It must enhance its semiconductor and AI skills. This will help it stay competitive with North America and China. The new Japan-ASEAN AI partnership is a game-changer for several key reasons:

        1.§Building Regional Tech Powerhouses
Japan partners with ASEAN to explore digital markets in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. This gives Japan access to a wealth of new AI talent and innovation centers. This lets Japanese companies join a bigger ecosystem. Here, working together across borders speeds up research. It also helps turn AI ideas into real-world applications.
ASEAN countries offer diverse data environments and unique market needs. They also have multilingual applications. This variety can enhance AI model development. Logistics, fintech, smart cities, and industrial automation companies can gain from these chances.

        2.§Advancing AI Governance and Legal Frameworks
A key part of the agreement is creating consistent legal standards and rules for AI. This step is essential for scaling and meeting regulations across borders. As global regulations around AI safety, fairness, and transparency evolve, joint Japan–ASEAN work could influence interoperable rules that reduce compliance costs and legal uncertainty for regional AI businesses.
This cooperation may also position Japan as a thought leader in ethical AI governance — an important differentiator compared to more permissive innovation models seen elsewhere.

        3.§Balancing Global Tech Competition
Japan’s partnership with ASEAN on AI is a smart move. It balances ties with tech giants like the U.S. and China. It also boosts regional innovation.
Japanese firms can take advantage of early mover benefits in Southeast Asia. This helps them create alternatives to the leading U.S. and Chinese tech platforms. They can rely less on these ecosystems. This also boosts regional resilience.

Conclusion
Japan is enhancing its AI agreement with ASEAN. This puts it at the forefront of tech partnerships in a fast-changing world. Japan and ASEAN are collaborating on AI development, research, and regulations. This partnership boosts regional connections. It also creates new chances for Japanese tech companies and investors. It shows how countries can team up in technology. The focus is on inclusivity and future growth.

itbusinesstoday.com/tech/ai/...unter-global-tech-competition/

Rakuten Travel Xchange is heading to FITUR 2026 in Madrid. You’ll be able to meet Olga Maria Grzesiuk and Muhsin Doğrucan at Hall 12 – Stand Travelgate D02 from January 21 to 23. They will be discussing partnerships, new markets and business opportunities during the trade fair.

www.linkedin.com/posts/...r-activity-7416456431891259392-ZCEm

from his ownerhship of 31 million AST-shares and get for this 6 million AST-shares about $ 690 million and use it for the repay of debts.

I believe such a diversification of risks is  part of good risk-management.