Red Hat announced that it will supply Rakuten Mobile with its Enterprise Linux for Real Time as part of a collaboration aimed at enhancing Rakuten's fully virtualized, cloud-native network. This partnership also includes support for Rakuten Symphony in developing open RAN telecommunications solutions for global customers.

Red Hat's contribution will enable Rakuten to utilize advanced Linux technology, allowing Rakuten Symphony to enhance its platforms and tools for telecommunications service providers. Additionally, Red Hat will assist in certifying Rakuten Cloud’s Cloud-Native Storage on Red Hat OpenShift, facilitating integration with Kubernetes-native tools.

The integration of Red Hat’s advanced security features and hybrid cloud capabilities positions Rakuten well to advance open RAN initiatives, private 5G partnerships, and satellite-enabled LTE connectivity. The collaboration emphasizes the need for reliable enterprise support and operating systems that can address the evolving demands of the telecommunications sector. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is designed to offer scalability and dependable performance, assisting organizations in lowering costs and managing workloads across various environments.

This partnership reflects both companies' commitment to security and leadership in the telecommunications industry.

Ashesh Badani, senior vice president and chief product officer at Red Hat, stated, “Red Hat is thrilled to collaborate with Rakuten Mobile and Rakuten Symphony in supporting their vision for open and secure telecommunications and digital services. The unmatched flexibility, stability and security that Red Hat Enterprise Linux offers will be a perfect fit for helping Rakuten Mobile to provide innovative customer experiences and solutions.” Mibu Ryoata, general manager of the Telecommunication Cloud Platform Department at Rakuten Mobile, added, “Rakuten Mobile is excited to work with leading partners from around the world such as Red Hat. By using Red Hat’s open source expertise and solutions we are able to deliver best-in-class network operations and cost-effective services to our mobile customers in Japan.”