World’s First Fully Virtualized Network, From Rakuten Mobile, Deploys Thales’ Trusted Connectivity Solutions
29.6.2021 11:00:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Thales is playing a key role in the world’s first end-to-end cloud-native1 mobile network, operated by Rakuten Mobile, Inc., a dynamic entrant into the Japanese market. This agile mobile network operator is utilizing Thales’ comprehensive portfolio of eSIM, SIM and remote connectivity management solutions, to enable a rapid digital onboarding journey for consumers. Thales’ eSIM technology also plays a key role in the development of Rakuten Mobile’s innovative 4G and 5G smartphones.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210629005483/en/
(Photo: Business Wire)
By supporting cloud activation of eSIM-capable devices, Thales’ solutions enhance Rakuten Mobile’s digital onboarding procedures for its subscribers. Remote management of subscriptions over the device’s lifetime is similarly straightforward for users. As well as digitalising the customer experience, this digital-first strategy increases Rakuten Mobile’s operational efficiency.
Thales’ space-saving eSIM is particularly valuable for 5G devices, which currently require large antennas and batteries leaving little space for new functionality. Rakuten Mobile is using Thales’ eSIMs in its 4G & 5G smartphones: the Rakuten Mini, the Rakuten Hand and the 5G compatible Rakuten BIG.
Reflecting these benefits, the GSMA predicts there will be 2.42 billion eSIM smartphone connections worldwide by 2025. In the same year, more than 130 million 5G connections are expected in Japan alone.
“Rakuten Mobile has embarked on a journey of innovation to create a new generation of cloud-based mobile services. Thales’ innovative eSIM solutions enable us to offer a quicker, smoother onboarding process to our customers and deliver a fully digitised but secure user experience.”
Tareq Amin, Representative Director, Executive Vice President and CTO, Rakuten Mobile
“Rakuten Mobile’s strategy is focused on offering the convenience of a self-service onboarding for their customers. We are thrilled that our eSIM management solutions are helping Rakuten Mobile improve their customer experience with a secure digital enrolment and out of the box subscription delivery. This new 5G era boosted by Thales eSIM also addresses promising new consumer IoT use cases.”
Emmanuel Unguran, Thales SVP for Mobile Connectivity Solutions
1
The network architecture (from the RAN to the core) is entirely virtualized.
2 GSMA Intelligence – June 2021.
Related resource:
Infographic:
What is an eSIM: 6 illustrated answers
eBook: Best practices for optimising eSIM adoption
About Thales
Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies, investing in digital and “deep tech” innovations – connectivity, big data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum computing – to build a confident future crucial for the development of our societies. The Group provides its customers – businesses, organisations and governments – in the defense, aeronautics, space, transport, and digital identity and security domains with solutions, services and products that help them fulfil their critical role, consideration for the individual being the driving force behind all decisions.
Thales has 81,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2020 the Group generated sales of €17 billion.
PLEASE VISIT
Thales Group
Market page
Download HD photos
@Thalesgroup
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210629005483/en/
Contact information
PRESS
Thales, Media Relations
Digital Identity and Security
Vanessa Viala
+33 (0)6 07 34 00 34
vanessa.viala@thalesgroup.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Ant International, Mastercard and Visa Initiate Collaboration on Know-Your-Agent Interoperability to Scale Agentic Commerce10.9.2026 04:00:00 EEST | Press release
Ant International, Mastercard, and Visa have begun collaboration on a Know-Your-Agent (KYA) interoperability framework, designed to help card networks, digital wallet ecosystems, agent platforms and marketplaces streamline agent onboarding and identification across networks, based on shared principles while preserving each network's own verification and decisioning processes. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260909003891/en/ Ant International, Mastercard and Visa initiate collaboration on Know-Your-Agent interoperability to scale agentic commerce AI agents are evolving from making recommendations to completing purchases on behalf of users. By 2030, AI agents are projected to orchestrate US$3 trillion to 5 trillion of global consumer commercei. Underlying the mega-trend is the KYA architecture of payment networks and service providers, which establishes requirements and accountability, verifies agent identities,
Cyclic Materials Opens America’s First Commercial-Scale Facility Delivering Automated Rare Earth Magnet Recovery9.9.2026 23:09:00 EEST | Press release
Cyclic Materials announced today the opening of its first commercial-scale rare earth magnet recycling facility in Mesa, Arizona, marking a major milestone in building domestic supply of rare earths and critical minerals. With an annual processing capacity of up to 25,000 metric tons of magnet-bearing end-of-life products, the facility produces Cyclic’s rare earth magnet material, Mag-Xtract™, and critical minerals such as copper and aluminum, and steel. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260909142592/en/ Leaders gather to mark the opening of Cyclic Materials’ new facility in Mesa, Arizona. From left to right: Herbert Flores, Arizona Commerce Authority Vice President of Business Development; Scott Somers, City of Mesa Vice Mayor; Jeff Dawley, Cyclic Materials CFO; Mark Freeman, City of Mesa Mayor; Ahmad Ghahreman, Cyclic Materials Founder and CEO; William Kimmitt, U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Internationa
Belkin Introduces Titan SmartShield Pro Collection for the New iPhone 18 Pro Lineup9.9.2026 22:00:00 EEST | Press release
Belkin, a leading consumer electronics brand for over 40 years, today introduced its new Titan SmartShield Pro collection, designed to protect and enhance the experience of the new iPhone 18 Pro lineup. The collection includes three distinct screen protectors – clear, Blue-to-Red and Bright Privacy – each combining advanced Nano-Titan Technology with premium anti-reflective properties, exceptional scratch resistance and up to 9 feet of impact protection.* This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260909094720/en/ Belkin Titan SmartShield Pro Blue-to-Red Light screen protector As smartphones become increasingly central to how people work, travel and connect, the Titan SmartShield Pro collection goes beyond traditional screen protection to address the different ways consumers use their devices throughout the day. Whether prioritizing crystal-clear viewing, greater visual privacy or a more comfortable screen experience, us
PPAI Releases Landmark Study Showing Branded Merchandise Supports a $472 Billion Global Economic Footprint9.9.2026 20:24:00 EEST | Press release
Branded merchandise connects brands and people every day, but its impact extends well beyond the products consumers wear, use, receive or purchase. A landmark study commissioned by Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) provides the first comprehensive look at the global economic ecosystem behind branded merchandise. Conducted by independent global advisory firm Oxford Economics, the Branded Merchandise Global Market Report measures the industry end to end, from manufacturing and decoration to distribution, retail, e-commerce, fulfillment, marketing and brand activation. Key findings: $338.3 billion was spent on branded merchandise globally in 2025. The industry supported $472.3 billion in global GDP. Branded merchandise supported 11.9 million jobs worldwide. The sector supported $141.3 billion in global tax revenues – roughly the same as the entire Swiss federal budget. “For years, we’ve known branded merchandise has an extraordinary ability to connect brands with peopl
Vindral Named Recipient of 2026 Technology & Engineering Emmy ® Award9.9.2026 19:38:00 EEST | Press release
Vindral, the Swedish company building future-ready technology for real-time audio and video, has been named a recipient of a 2026 Technology & Engineering Emmy® Award by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS). Vindral is recognised in the category Web-Based Frame-Accurate Remote Monitoring Systems for Distributed Broadcast Production. The co-recipients in the category are SipRadius, NBCUniversal, Grass Valley, CBS Sports, Disney, Game Creek and Amazon. The awards will be presented on October 14 at the Television Academy's Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California, where Vindral will be represented by CEO Daniel Alinder and Ian Jefferson. The Technology & Engineering Emmy® Award is one of the U.S. television industry's most prestigious recognitions of technical achievement, previously awarded to companies including Apple, Sony, Netflix and YouTube. This year's recipients are honoured for technology that enabled high-quality, real-time production from distribu
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom