TOKYO, March 2, 2026 – Rakuten Mobile, Inc., Rakuten Symphony, Inc. and Nokia today announced that Nokia’s cloud-native network functions (CNFs), including IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) for voice services, Subscriber Data Management (SDM), Cloud Signaling Director (CSD), Mediation and NetGuard Certificate Manager, are now deployed and running in live commercial operations at Rakuten Mobile on Rakuten Cloud*1.
Building on earlier validation completed at Rakuten Mobile’s Cloud Innovation Lab in Tokyo*2, this milestone confirms Nokia’s cloud-native IMS Core network services operating seamlessly alongside other cloud-native network functions on Rakuten Cloud in a production environment, supporting Rakuten Mobile’s fully virtualized, cloud-native network architecture. It further reinforces Rakuten Cloud’s growing ecosystem of partner solutions designed for large-scale, sustainable 5G networks.
By deploying Nokia’s IMS and SDM Core as cloud-native network functions, Rakuten Mobile benefits from Rakuten Cloud-Native Platform architecture that enables faster deployments and upgrades, elastic scaling and enhanced orchestration and automation compared to traditional virtualized Cloud. Rakuten’s cloud-native approach improves network resilience, accelerates service innovation and reduces operational complexity while supporting advanced 4G and 5G services, including voice over LTE.
“This milestone demonstrates that Rakuten Cloud is a true ecosystem platform capable of hosting demanding telco workloads where leading partners like Nokia can deploy mission-critical network functions at scale in a live environment,” said Partha Seetala, President, Cloud Business Unit, Rakuten Symphony. “With Nokia’s 4G and 5G IMS, SDM, CSD, Mediation and NetGuard cloud-native functions running in Rakuten Mobile’s commercial network, we are delivering a real-world blueprint for operators to modernize their core networks with greater automation, agility and sustainability.”
“Our collaboration with Rakuten Symphony and Rakuten Mobile highlights the strength of Nokia’s multi-cloud strategy and our commitment to open, cloud-native innovation,” said Marcelo Cheminn Madruga, Head of Technology and Platforms, Core Software at Nokia. “Together, we are enabling operators to operate their core networks with greater flexibility, automation and sustainability, ready for the demands of 5G and future services.”
This announcement underscores Rakuten Symphony’s strategy to expand the Rakuten Cloud ecosystem with best-in-class partner solutions and to deliver a unified cloud platform for deploying, operating and scaling next-generation mobile networks globally.
Notes:
*1. Some Rakuten Cloud features incorporate R&D outcomes obtained through a grant project by NICT (JPJ012368G50901). Related press release: Rakuten Mobile Launches R&D into Advanced Edge Cloud Technology, with Funding Awarded by NICT https://corp.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/english/news/press/2023/1117_01/
*2. Press release from July 31, 2025: Rakuten Symphony Validates Rakuten Cloud Portfolio with Nokia Cloud-Native Core Network Products
*Product names, service names and other names mentioned in this press release are generally trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Trademarks such as TM and ® may be omitted when trademarks are listed in this press release.
About Nokia
Nokia is a global leader in connectivity for the AI era. With expertise across fixed, mobile, and transport networks, we’re advancing connectivity to secure a brighter world.
About Rakuten Mobile
Rakuten Mobile, Inc. is a Rakuten Group company responsible for mobile communications, centered on its mobile network operator (MNO) business in Japan. Through continuous innovation and the deployment of advanced technology, Rakuten Mobile aims to redefine expectations in the mobile communications industry in order to provide appealing and convenient services for diverse customer needs.
About Rakuten Symphony
Rakuten Symphony is changing supply chain norms and disrupting outmoded thinking that threatens the industry’s pursuit of rapid innovation and growth. Based on proven modern infrastructure practices, its open interface platforms make it possible to launch and operate advanced services in a fraction of the time and cost of conventional approaches, with no compromise to network quality or security. Rakuten Symphony has operations in Japan, the United States, Singapore, India, South Korea, Europe and the Middle East Africa region.
For more information about Rakuten Symphony's offerings, please visit: https://symphony.rakuten.com.
