German Operator 1&1 to Build Fully Virtualized Open RAN with Rakuten

1&1 AG and Rakuten Group have entered into a long-term partnership to build the fourth mobile network in Germany. Together with Rakuten, 1&1 will build Europe's first fully virtualized mobile network based on innovative OpenRAN technology. 

Rakuten becomes general contractor for the 1&1 mobile network.  Specifically, Rakuten will take over the build of the active network equipment and will also be responsible for the overall performance of the 1&1 mobile network. 1&1 will have access to the Rakuten Communications Platform (RCP) stack of access, core, cloud and operations solutions as well as to its partner network. In this context, Rakuten will also provide its specially developed orchestration software so that the 1&1 network can be operated in a highly automated manner.

In contrast to traditional network architectures, the OpenRAN approach disaggregates software and hardware. By using commercially available servers, so-called COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) hardware, a wide variety of software and radio manufacturers can be combined as desired. This means that 1&1 is highly independent from dominant providers and has the possibility to work flexibly with different manufacturers.

All network functions are in the cloud and are run by software. Complex retrofitting or maintenance at the base stations of the antennas is thus obsolete and can be carried out efficiently and cost-effectively through software updates.

Four central data centers are planned for the core network. To the core network hundreds of decentralized data centers throughout Germany will be connected, which in turn will be connected to thousands of antenna locations via fiber optics. Data centers and fibre optic lines are provided by 1&1's sister company 1&1 Versatel.