From dismantling radios to leading cloud-native telecom integrations in Japan, Vijayaragavan R, Tech Lead at Rakuten Symphony, shares how his passion for technology turned into a career shaping the future of telecom.
Tell us a little bit about your journey to Rakuten Symphony to date.
I grew up in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, a city renowned for its engineering colleges, sparked my initial fascination with electronics and wireless technology. As a kid, I was always dismantling old radios to understand how they worked. This early curiosity led me to pursue a degree in electronics and telecommunications engineering, setting the foundation for my career.
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After graduating in 2011, I immersed myself in the telecom industry - gaining hands-on experience with network rollouts, performance improvements, and large-scale integrations. Over the years, I had the opportunity to work across multiple generations of telecom technologies, always enjoying the fast pace and evolving nature of the industry.
The opportunity to join Rakuten Symphony arose when I learned more about their approach to cloud-native and software-driven telecom networks.. This was a radical shift from the industry norm, and I wanted to be part of something that challenged conventional telecom models. In 2022, I joined Rakuten Mobile, later transitioning to Rakuten Symphony, where I now work as a Tech Lead in the FCAPS Integration Team under the OSS division.
What made you say ‘yes’ to joining the Rakuten Symphony team?
For over a decade, I worked with major telecom vendors like Nokia and Ericsson, where I learned a lot, but observed that the industry often operated in a monolithic fashion — a single vendor would provide everything from hardware to software, creating a closed ecosystem with very little flexibility.
Rakuten Symphony, on the other hand, was doing something entirely different. It wasn’t just about building a network—it was about revolutionizing telecom by bringing together multiple vendors and open systems under a fully cloud-native, software-driven architecture. The idea of working in an environment where I could seamlessly integrate disparate vendor technologies, tackle complex interoperability challenges, and contribute to an industry-first transformation was incredibly appealing.
Can you share more about your role and responsibilities?
As a Tech Lead for FCAPS Integration, my primary responsibility is to integrate multiple vendor solutions into Rakuten Symphony’s cloud-native operations platform. We work with a diverse mix of hardware and software providers, so every new device, application, or network component that joins our system needs to be configured, tested, and seamlessly integrated. It’s a role that requires a deep understanding of network architectures, automation, and fault monitoring, as well as the ability to collaborate across teams—from software developers to operations engineers.
On any given day, I might be analyzing vendor requirements, developing integration strategies, coordinating with teams in India and Japan, or testing network performance and fault alarms to ensure everything runs smoothly. It’s a balance of technical depth and teamwork that keeps the job engaging and dynamic.
What surprised you most about since joining?
One thing that truly stands out is the agility and collaborative spirit within the company. While we work on large-scale telecom solutions, there’s also a startup-like energy, where teams are encouraged to innovate, experiment, and refine ideas quickly.
Another aspect that has been inspiring is the access to a diverse range of expertise—I get to collaborate with talented professionals across cloud computing, automation, AI, and telecom operations, which creates an incredibly rich learning environment.
What’s been your best day here so far?
There have been many memorable moments, but one that stands out is when we successfully completed a major integration project. We worked on migrating a critical monitoring system, ensuring that network alarms and performance data were seamlessly received and processed. It was an exciting process that involved analyzing data, refining configurations, and testing different solutions to enhance performance. As we fine-tuned the system, everything started to come together smoothly. After multiple refinements, we achieved a seamless integration, and seeing the final results was incredibly rewarding. Knowing that our work directly contributed to optimizing network operations and efficiency made this a truly fulfilling experience.
What inspires you?
I am a big believer in Kaizen, the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement. Whether it’s in my professional work or personal interests, I always look for small, incremental ways to make things better.
This mindset helps me approach challenges with a solution-driven perspective, always striving for efficiency and optimization. It’s not just about solving problems—it’s about learning, evolving, and pushing boundaries to create something better.
What are your hobbies outside of work that keep you grounded?
I love traveling and exploring new cultures, and since moving to Japan, I’ve been actively learning Japanese. I enjoy discovering different parts of the country—most recently, I visited Nikko, which was a fantastic experience.
I’m also passionate about cooking, especially South Indian cuisine. Experimenting with ingredients, trying new recipes, and refining flavors is something I find both creative and relaxing.
What advice do you have for people considering joining Rakuten Symphony?
Be curious, adaptable, and open to new ideas. Telecom is evolving rapidly, with cloud-native technologies, AI-driven automation, and software-defined networking reshaping the industry. Rakuten Symphony is at the heart of this transformation, and it’s an exciting place for those who are ready to embrace new challenges and think beyond traditional approaches.
If you enjoy problem-solving, innovation, and working in a dynamic, collaborative environment, this is a place where you can truly grow and make an impact.
What’s next for you in your career?
I’m always looking forward to new opportunities to explore and innovate. Right now, I’m focused on enhancing network automation and improving interoperability within Open RAN networks.
I’m also excited about exploring AI-driven solutions for network management, finding ways to make telecom operations even smarter, more efficient, and future-ready. The industry is evolving rapidly, and I’m looking forward to being part of that transformation.
