Attending FutureNet World 2026?

Book a meeting with one of our global telecom experts at booth #18

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Experience Intelligent Growth

Rakuten AI

Meet us at FutureNet World

Meet us at
FutureNet World

21-22 April
London

Booth #2C70 | April 21-22, London
Request a meeting

Meet us at

Meet us at FutureNet World

Booth #2C70 | April 21-22, London

Thank you for joining us at
FutureNet World 2026!

Request a meeting

Why Intelligent Growth Matters Now

Telecom is at a clear crossroads. The traditional model of outsourcing control, scaling through heavier infrastructure, and operating increasingly complex networks with legacy systems, can’t keep up with what customers now expect.
At Rakuten Symphony, we’re taking a different path focused on intelligent growth: networks that operate like adaptive software, with automation and AI at the core rather than added on top.
Intelligent Redefined

Intelligence Redefined

Turn networks into self-driving systems—zero-touch, resilient, and adaptive.
Growth Redefined

Growth Redefined

Plan, build, assure at massive scale and speed with AI-driven automation.
We’d love to share how we’re helping operators:

Reclaim Control

Reclaim control and reduce dependency on fragmented vendor ecosystems.

Scale Networks as Software

Scale networks as software through automation, cloud native operations, and AI driven decisioning.

Unlock New Revenue in the AI Era

Unlock new revenue by using data, AI, and service design to move beyond pure connectivity.
Press Release
Rakuten Mobile Receives World First Level 4 Autonomy Validation for RAN Energy Efficiency Optimization in a Live Open RAN Network from TM Forum
Read More

Taking the center stage: AI, monetisation, and more

Ecosystem Architects

Forging the Future of Connectivity & Commerce

calendar

Monday, 2 March 2026

Two different perspectives, infinite opportunity. Rakuten and VEON join to share how telecom operators and their partners can create new digital ecosystems using existing strengths and assets. Mickey and Kaan will present replicable blueprints for unlocking new revenue growth and customer value in mature and emerging markets alike. As telecom grapples with stagnant ARPU, massive infrastructure investments and the emergence of digital-native competitors, this session reveals actionable insights for operators and industry stakeholders seeking value creation strategies beyond connectivity.

Mickey Mikitani
Group CEO,
Rakuten Group
Kaan Terzioğlu
Group CEO, 

VEON

Can Telcos Monetise the AI Gold Rush?

Faiq Khan joined representatives from Orange Business, BT International and TELUS on a keynote panel sharing insights on how technical capability doesn't automatically translate to revenue. He discussed how telcos must move beyond connectivity and prove they are the right partners to monetise loyalty.

Catch the session highlights here

Can Telcos Monetise the AI Gold Rush?

Faiq Khan joined representatives from Orange Business, BT International and TELUS on a keynote panel sharing insights on how technical capability doesn't automatically translate to revenue. He discussed how telcos must move beyond connectivity and prove they are the right partners to monetise loyalty.

Catch the session highlights here

AI-driven RAN Transformation

Mina Nicola joined an engaging panel, outlining how AI native architectures, the RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC), and proven Level 4 autonomous operations are coming together to enable real-time intelligence, multi-vendor innovation, and self-healing networks operating reliably at massive scale. Mina was joined by leaders from Telenor, VMO2 and A1 Telekom Austria Group.


Catch the session highlights here

Winner of the Network AI Award


This category recognises the most innovative AI solution for enhancing network performance. We are not just talking about AI, we’re already using it to power the next generation of connectivity.
Share this news with your network, click here.

Featured reads from FutureNet World

Rakuten Mobile’s journey to autonomy traces back to 26 year old academic research
Petrit Nahi shares how Rakuten Mobile is beginning to see what full network autonomy looks like — starting with energy savings.
Article by Fierce Network
Go big or go bust: Why telco monetisation problems won’t be solved with more tech

Faiq Khan discusses his belief on why Telecom doesn’t have an AI problem, it has a monetisation problem.
Read the latest edition of Zero-Touch
RAN intelligence is a growth strategy, not a cost play
RAN has always been where telecom spends the most and differentiates the least. Mina Nicola argues that this is changing.
Read more

AI-Driven RAN automation

Transforming networks for a smarter,
more efficient future

calendar

Tuesday, 21 April, 12:30 GMT, Track B

This session dives into how AI-driven RAN automation is reshaping network efficiency, performance, and commercial potential. Leaders will discuss practical roadmaps for adopting AI in the RAN, how AI can transform the supply chain and strengthen ecosystem collaboration, and emerging commercial use cases powered by AI-RAN and APIs. The panel will also explore what’s required for AI-RAN to reach its full potential and the strategic steps operators should take next.

Mina Nicola
Sales & Solutions Director EMEA
Rakuten Symphony
Afnan Ahmed
Director Technology Strategy & Architecture
Telenor
Thomas Hodi
Senior RAN Expert, AI Product Manager
AI Telekom Austria
Francis Haysom
Principal Analyst
Appledore Research

CxO Keynote Panel

Can Telcos Monetise the AI gold rush?

calendar

Wednesday, 22 April, 09:00 – 09:40 GMT, Main Stage

This keynote panel explores how operators can turn the AI boom into real, scalable value. Industry leaders will discuss how telcos can move up the AI value chain, from connectivity to compute and vertical AI platforms, while delivering secure, outcome-driven services that position them as essential partners in enterprise AI. The session will also examine the path to new revenue streams, including AI-as-a-service models and sector-specific managed edge offerings.

Faiq Khan
SVP, Global Sales,
OSS BU
Rakuten Symphony
Miguel Angel Alvarez Bernado
Chief Data & AI Officer
 Orange Business
Sef Tuma
CTIO
BT International
Hesham Fahmy
CIO
Telus

What we have in store for you

Visit and see how capabilities from Cloud, RAN, OSS, and Rakuten Ecosystem, create a new business reality - for both top line and bottom line

Cloud

Cloud

Scale without limits. With Rakuten Cloud, you gain real-time access and control of edge-level data across thousands of sites—giving your business the agility to grow faster and smarter.

Open RAN

Open RAN

Deliver exceptional experiences. Our Open RAN solutions help you build flexible, future-ready networks with proven performance—so you can serve customers better, everywhere.

OSS

OSS

Prevent problems before they happen. Rakuten Symphony OSS gives you predictive, autonomous intelligence—unifying data for instant clarity and proactive action.

Ecosystem

Ecosystem

With a diverse ecosystem of 70+ services we empower you to go fully digital—cutting costs, speeding operations, and accelerating transformation.

Cloud
Scale without limits. With Rakuten Cloud, you gain real-time access and control of edge-level data across thousands of sites—giving your business the agility to grow faster and smarter.
Open RAN
Deliver exceptional experiences. Our Open RAN solutions help you build flexible, future-ready networks with proven performance—so you can serve customers better, everywhere.
OSS
Prevent problems before they happen. Rakuten Symphony OSS gives you predictive, autonomous intelligence—unifying data for instant clarity and proactive action.
Ecosystem
With a diverse ecosystem of 70+ services we empower you to go fully digital—cutting costs, speeding operations, and accelerating transformation.

Key highlights from FutureNet World 2026

Latest news and updates

AT&T and Rakuten Symphony Collaborate to Enhance Network Design and Build Solutions for Operators

PRESS RELEASE

Rakuten makes big waves at MWC Barcelona 2025

BLOG
BLOG

RAN intelligence is a growth strategy, not a cost play

Know more
BLOG

Telecom has reached Level 4 autonomy in live networks. The operational implications are significant

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BLOG

The control illusion: how telecom outsourced its own future

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Rakuten Symphony Announces Cisco, Airspan and Tech Mahindra as First Partners for Its Real Open RAN Licensing Program

PRESS RELEASE
BLOG

Intelligent Growth: Scaling networks as software, not infrastructure

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BLOG

From connectivity to new revenue: Designing telecom businesses for the AI era

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NEWSROOM

Rakuten Symphony and VEON’s Beeline Uzbekistan  Partner for Open RAN, AI Collaboration

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Rakuten Symphony Announces Global Expansion of Storage Solution Through Availability on Google Cloud Marketplace

PRESS RELEASE
NEWSROOM

Rakuten Symphony and Lightstorm to Deliver Sovereign Network-as-a-Service Platform

Know more

Building regional digital powerhouses: the role of smart data platforms in telecom success

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Meet us at FutureNet World
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