The aim is to develop a blueprint for mobile broadband and Open RAN based on the Rakuten Communications Platform (RCP).
Etisalat Group and Rakuten Mobile have signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a reference blueprint for mobile broadband networks and Open RAN technology based on the Rakuten Communications Platform (RCP).
Reference design
Put another way, the two aim to jointly develop a reference design for mobile networks to serve Etisalat customers across the Middle East, Africa and Asia regions, based on open standards and a cloud-native, software centric and fully virtualised and containerised platform.
“We’re excited to work with Etisalat to build a new generation of telecom infrastructure based on the Rakuten Communications Platform which will bring cost effective mobile services to their customers across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia,” said Tareq Amin, Representative Director, EVP and CTO of Rakuten Mobile (pictured).
Across MEA region
Hatem Bamatraf, Chief Technology Officer, Etisalat International, said: “Etisalat Group and our affiliate networks across the Middle East and Africa bring rich services and experiences to our customers across the region.
“This is a unique opportunity for Etisalat and Rakuten Mobile to co-explore and further develop next generation mobile networks based on RCP that will allow Etisalat to leverage a cost-effective, cloud-native, Open RAN based mobile network architecture that is secure, scalable and reliable.”
Rakuten Mobile is thought to have signed up more than 20 operators to use its RCP in pilots or commercial contracts.