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
euroAtlantic Airways Expands Long-Haul Fleet With a New Airbus A330-300 Aircraft2.9.2026 10:00:00 EEST | Press release
euroAtlantic Airways (“EAA”), a Njord Partners portfolio company and a leading Portuguese aircraft wet-leasing and charter business, is pleased to announce the induction of a new Airbus A330-300 aircraft into its fleet, further strengthening its long-haul widebody capabilities and reinforcing the Company's growth trajectory in the ACMI and charter markets. The Airbus A330-300 is leased from Jackson Square Aviation (JSA). Only 15 years old, the aircraft is configured in a three-class layout of Business, Premium Economy and Economy, accommodating a total of 290 passengers, and features full lie-flat seating in Business Class along with personal in-seat entertainment monitors fitted across the entire cabin. The aircraft, which will be registered as CS-TGI after completing its normal process of approval with authorities, has already completed its delivery journey, departing Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and arriving into Beja, Portugal (BYJ) on 17 August 2026. This aircraft type is known for its effi
Interoperability and Trust Key to AI Commerce: Alipay+ and S&P Global Report2.9.2026 09:33:00 EEST | Press release
A new report by Alipay+, the unified wallet gateway of Ant International, in partnership with S&P Global, reveals a growing "commerce digitalisation gap", with people increasingly expecting seamless mobile payments and intelligent digital assistance, yet friction – from inconsistent payment acceptance to trust in AI – still define their experience. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260901394299/en/ The study, which surveyed 6,000 consumers across nine markets in Asia, Europe and the US on their cross-border spending habits, points to a major shift underway in global commerce — one where e-wallets, AI and interoperable digital ecosystems are becoming foundational to how consumers discover, transact and engage across borders. Key findings: Travel exposes gaps in global commerce infrastructure: More than half of consumers cite uncertainty around merchant acceptance (53%) or lack of access to preferred payment metho
Kontoor Brands Unveils Helly Hansen Growth Strategy and 2030 Financial Targets2.9.2026 09:30:00 EEST | Press release
Kontoor Brands, Inc. (NYSE: KTB) today announced Helly Hansen’s long-term growth strategy and 2030 financial targets, which Kontoor Brands will present at the Helly Hansen® Investor Day later today. The plan is designed to scale Helly Hansen globally while significantly expanding its profitability through 2030. "With 150 years of technical heritage and an authentic right to win globally, Helly Hansen is a brand with tremendous long-term growth potential," said Scott Baxter, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Kontoor Brands. "Strong alignment between our teams has allowed us to integrate quickly and move straight to executing against the opportunity ahead. Our sustained investment in Helly Hansen will be a catalyst for its next phase of growth, and we are confident in our ability to deliver significant value for our consumers, employees and shareholders for years to come." A Focused Growth Strategy: To deliver against these targets, Helly Hansen’s growth is anchored in
Axelspace Announces Partnership with Airbus Defence and Space to Deliver Satellite Imagery to a Broader Market2.9.2026 09:30:00 EEST | Press release
Axelspace Corporation (“Axelspace”), a leading microsatellite company committed to making “Space within Your Reach,” announced today a new agreement with Airbus Defence and Space, a global leader in Earth observation including optical and radar satellite imagery, to provide mid-resolution optical images captured by Axelspace’s Earth observation microsatellites “GRUS.” Under this strategic partnership, we will develop and deliver innovative solutions that meet long-term customer needs for utilizing satellite imagery. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260901360086/en/ GRUS is Axelspace's series of approximately 100 kg-class optical Earth observation microsatellites. GRUS-1 is currently operated as a four-satellite constellation, delivering high-frequency, wide-area imagery. This imagery, together with value-added solutions derived through processing and analysis, supports a broad range of industries, including agr
Vara Receives World-First CE Certification for Autonomous AI in Breast Cancer Screening2.9.2026 09:00:00 EEST | Press release
Vara has received CE certification under the EU Medical Device Regulation (Class IIb) for autonomous triage in organised breast cancer screening – the first breast AI certified anywhere to report screening examinations as normal without radiologist review. In autonomous triage, examinations the system classifies as clearly normal can be reported by AI without a radiologist reading them; every other examination continues to be read by at least one radiologist. This deployment mode is intended for organised population screening, where a shrinking radiologist workforce is straining programmes that still read every mammogram twice. The certification has only been possible because Vara has developed a safety system that supervises the autonomous use of its AI models. "What made this possible is not the AI model alone," said Stefan Bunk, CTO and co-founder of Vara. "It is based on seven years of continuous monitoring of how our AI performs in the real world, on every single case. That experi
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