Rakuten wesentlich besser als Rocket

Rakuten: Subscribers and Network Coverage

At the end of September, Rakuten Mobile had 5.1 million subscribers, having added just 2 million subscribers during the past 12 months, despite the recent expansion of its 4G network. In a country with a population of over 125 million, this is hardly a huge amount. In contrast, market leader NTT DoCoMo has more than 83 million subscribers.

Management still maintains – probably to alleviate investor concerns – that Rakuten will break even by 2023. It thus has a 12 to 18-month window to dramatically increase subscriber acquisitions. Offering much cheaper tariffs, the company is banking on consumers switching en-masse from bigger rivals, as well as finally being able to hit its 96% network coverage target in early 2022. However, in a largely cost insensitive market and with notoriously fickle consumers, will this be enough to attract sufficient new subscribers? Although the break-even target now apparently includes revenues from its telco software platform Symphony – perhaps a saving grace – management expects losses to be at their worst in the first quarter of 2022 but to improve from Q2 onwards.

In the likely event that Rakuten deviates from its planned 2023 break-even path, it is vital that the company can nevertheless show a substantial ramp up in subscriber acquisition over the next six months to demonstrate that its aggressive loss-leading pricing strategy can work in Japan. Otherwise, there is a danger that investors will start to lose confidence in the company, which may also extend to telco customers at its Symphony business.

https://www.counterpointresearch.com/rakuten-2/

 

Rakuten Mobile’s MNO added 3 million subcribers in the last 12 month. But Rakuten Mobile closed the MVNO-business for new clients and the contracts of one million ended – but this clients were  not automatically clients of Rakuten Mobile’s MNO.  

I can’t understand, why an increase of 3 million MNO-users should not be an huge amount. I believe, that an increase of 3 million MNO-users is a big progress in times of Covid, where phone-users don’t like changes, but did the big number of 3 million changes, too.  

The move away from the monolithic systems of today to an architecture based on modular and open components is expected to generate a new European ecosystem in the radio access space, where today three vendors are estimated to control approximately 80% of the market.

Open RAN can significantly lower the barriers to market entry for new vendors and can pave the way for new business models, either through existing technology providers that specialize in one area, playing new and critical roles as systems integrators, or through new market entrants, universities and start-ups. A less concentrated market will help manage risks such as single-vendor dependency and vendor lock-in.

In addition, once a more diversified supply ecosystem is established, operator costs can be reduced through greater choice of vendors and increased flexibility to maximize the benefits of their investment, so that savings can be redirected to faster, more widespread and sustainable network deployment. Even though cost savings still need to be realized, especially regarding brownfield deployments, the use of standard hardware and improved offers should generate reductions in the operators’ capital expenditures, while reducing operating costs in the long run through the rigorous use of automation along the life cycle of solutions. In addition, cost-savings can be realised by the pooling of standard hardware in the RAN.

https://etno.eu//downloads/positionpapers/etno%2520position_oran.pdf  

auf lange Sicht wegen seiner Nachhaltigkeit für erfolgreicher halte.

Building a data-driven business without sacrificing user trust is the strategy of Rakuten Viber
Invading user privacy by collecting data just to sell it is an unimaginative waste of time and business intelligence, and it can irreparably damage a company’s relationship with its customers. Smart businesses are establishing relationships with users built on trust — trust that the data users are handing over will ultimately benefit them in the form of features and services that meet their ever-changing needs.

Building a data-driven digital business that respects user privacy doesn’t mean sacrificing profits. On the contrary, satisfying users by fully understanding their needs — through strategic data collection and the use of AI and decision intelligence — is the only way to ensure long-term profitability.

https://www.viber.com/en/blog/2021-12-02/...panies-are-doing-with-it/
 

The third driver for private 5G is the trend in many industrialized countries to democratise access to spectrum through liberalised spectrum licensing. Although approaches vary by jurisdiction, many countries are following the examples of Japan, Germany, the US and UK to make at least some spectrum available for enterprise use. This makes private 5G an increasingly viable and attractive option for enterprise networks.

The concept of a private mobile network is not entirely new: sectors such as mining, emergency services and defence have already deployed private networks based on 4G LTE.

Private 5G represents the intersection of several important technology trends that will impact both mobile network operators (MNOs) and enterprises. Some private networks will be built, owned and operated by MNOs, while others will be controlled and managed by enterprise users, with operators acting as integrators and consultants. This will allow MNOs to evolve from being connectivity providers to being value-added partners to their enterprise customers. Private networks will enable operators to earn revenue beyond the current limits of their spectrum licenses.

The enterprise market for private networks represents a significant opportunity for MNOs and provides a welcome chance for them to diversify from their traditional dependence on selling SIM connections, airtime and data bundles. However, transitioning to a business model based on enhancing operational efficiency or productivity rather than the consumption of minutes or data is still a work in progress.

For public and private enterprises, private 5G is an exciting opportunity to unlock efficiencies, leverage data in real-time, and generate new revenue. Private 5G networks are already helping enterprises in a variety of industries to cut costs, reduce energy use and analyse business-critical data in real-time.

While operators will remain key players, system integrators (SIs) and app developers with either local or vertical-specific expertise will also be important. The key will be in assembling the optimum mix of mobile, IT and software skills.

There is a natural symbiosis between private 5G and open RAN, the highly scalable, cloud first, disaggregated RAN solution. Built on open interface specifications between different network elements, open RAN can be hosted on the commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware or private cloud infrastructures that are at the heart of today’s data-driven enterprises.

Open RAN’s open interfaces will continue to stimulate innovation from smaller, nimble, vendors who are challenging the vendor lock-in associated with the legacy macro-network suppliers. These new entrants are supplying an increasingly diverse range of radio units that will help drive the private 5G market forward with solutions suitable for both mass scale private enterprise use cases as well as bespoke high-end use cases for advanced industries.

Open RAN is also well suited to supporting neutral host solutions which can be used to provide indoor connectivity to high traffic areas such as multi-tenanted offices, shopping malls, hospitals, stadiums and transport interchanges.

During the year ahead, the combination of private networks and Open RAN will give the clearest indication yet of the true extent of the benefits that 5G will bring to enterprises, the wider mobile ecosystem and society at large.

https://enterpriseiotinsights.com/20211216/...vate-5g-mavenir-on-2022
 

The investments of Rakuten Mobile must be only a small fraction of the investments of NTT DoCoMo and the the other two Japanese MNO-providers, because Rakuten could use the newest equipment and has the big advantages of Open RAN. The result is a very low break-even-point: After my estmates only between 7.5 and 10 million subscriber, which are easy to reach during 2023.  

Japan's E-commerce Payment Market is projected to reach US$ 297.87 Billion by 2026, from US$ 198.36 Billion in 2020, growing at a CAGR of 7.01%

E-commerce payment implies digitally purchasing products and services, paying for a merchant using an electronic platform. Moreover, the digital payment method, without the use of cash or cheques, is often regarded as an online or mobile payment network.

Japan has a well-developed e-commerce market and has registered sustainable growth over the years, supported by high mobile and online penetration and high consumer preference for online transactions. Consumers are increasingly shifting from cash to online payments.

In recent years, the e-commerce payment industry in Japan has been undergoing tremendous growth. It is projected to accelerate as the trend is moving toward mobile purchases and online shopping. Moreover, with the reputation for embracing technology and being at the forefront of digital innovation, Japan's e-commerce payments growth has been accelerated by ease and convenience.
Despite Japan's typically rapid adoption of new technologies, mobile commerce payment uptake remains relatively low, accounting for more petite than the e-commerce payment market. An ongoing inclination can describe this for desktops and a large ageing population, which is more reluctant than younger generations to adopt smartphones.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/...mi--merpay-301437918.html  

Interview mit Anna Znamenskaya,  Chief Growth Officer von Viber

https://www.futurebiz.de/artikel/...a-app-interview-anna-znamenskaya/
 

By 2021, Rakuten Viber will be able to maintain its impressive presence in the Asia-Pacific region

Posted by Lily Bella October 16, 2021

https://www.shwemovies.com/archives/121245/
 

Mr. Owen ignored, that the break-even-point will be dramatically lowered, if Rakuten Mobile coming off of roaming fees for the roaming partner KDDI, which will start in Q2/2022.  

Niigata Selects Rakuten Mobile, S INNOVATION, meleap, and Top Culture for its Project to Develop and Promote 5G Solutions

Niigata is spearheading this project to develop and promote 5G initiatives as a business anticipating life in the prefecture with and after the coronavirus pandemic with the goal of developing services, technology, and projects for the purpose of shifting to a non-face-to-face, contact-free business model using 5G technologies.

Rakuten Mobile, S INNOVATION, meleap, and Top Culture form the consortium for this business venture. Together, these four companies will provide immersive, high-definition broadcasts of HADO*2 Augmented Reality (AR) sports with the hope of achieving a revolutionary spectator experience using 5G technologies. The specific details of this project are outlined below.

https://hado-official.com/en/news/5g-solutions/
 

- selbst wenn die im bisherigen Jahresverlauf etwas zugelegt haben.

„Wer geduldig auf seine Chance für einen günstigen Kauf gewartet hat, der ist bisher reich belohnt worden. Einige Tech-Aktien, die nicht unbedingt zu den FAANG-Schwergewichten zählen, sind inzwischen sehr deutlich korrigiert. 40, 50 oder sogar 70 %? Ja, das können wir alles sehen. Hier ist jetzt für den Starinvestor womöglich der Zeitpunkt gekommen, um zu handeln und sich solche Chancen günstig und langfristig orientiert zu sichern.

Allerdings braucht es auch Geduld, bis solche Aktien ihr Renditepotenzial zeigen, womit wir beim zweiten Teil wären. Trotz allem sagt Warren Buffett sogar auch, dass man lediglich eine Aktie kaufen sollte, wenn man erträgt, dass sie sich im Wert halbiert. Das ist ebenfalls das Maß an Geduld, das man mitbringen muss. Mutiges Handeln und Geduld sind bei diesen speziellen Aktien jetzt daher für mich gefragt.“

https://www.msn.com/de-de/finanzen/top-stories/...sedgdhp&pc=U531
 

Rakuten must not only offering much cheaper tariffs to win new customers, like Mr. Owen stated – Mr. Owen ignored totaly the big marketing power, sales strength and distribution capacity of Rakuten, which is a lot stronger as by the three MNO-competitors.  

Possible telco customers of Symphony don’t look at pricing stracing strategie in Japan, which is a success to date, they looking if Open Ran doing well – and the result are excellent: „The first OpenRAN mobile network of Rakuten Mobile in Japan achieves an umlaut Score of 926 dots out of 1000, which is "very good".
https://www.umlaut.com/uploads/documents/...aut_Japan_AuditReport.pdf  

Rakuten India to step up hiring, have 3,000 employees by 2023

ByAyushi Ray | September 15, 2021

Rakuten India to step up hiring, have 3,000 employees by 2023. The e-commerce giant has about 1,700 employees in India and 500 of them were hired in the last year. “Rakuten is all in India. The kind of technologies, products and services that we have delivered for Rakuten global has been a really successful initiative for us,” Gopinath said on September 15. “And secondly, as we grow and scale, India is where Rakuten is comfortable with respect to hiring the next level of talent and scale.”

https://startupstorymedia.com/...-hiring-have-3000-employees-by-2023/  

India is a key market for the company as critical global projects are being built in the country, Rakuten CEO Sunil Gopinath tells Moneycontrol

SWATHI MOORTHY

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 / 11:07 AM IST

Japanese conglomerate Rakuten will almost double its India workforce to 3,000 by 2023, as the country becomes a key market to build products and services for its global initiatives, Rakuten India CEO Sunil Gopinath has told Moneycontrol.

Gopinath was talking to Moneycontrol on the eve of the launch of SixthSense, a Software-as-a-Service product that provides businesses end-to-end visibility of the entire IT environment, from development to business operations.

The product was developed at the company’s centre in Bengaluru. Rakuten is in talks with multiple enterprises in fintech, e-commerce and also government for the adoption of the product.

According to Rakuten executives, the market for products like SixthSense is $25-30 billion globally and is also growing rapidly in India.

The company will compete with platforms like Cisco’s AppDynamics in this space. The product was built by the company's data science and AI team with 300 people.

“The entire architecture of Rakuten Pay, which is equivalent to the likes of PhonePe or Amazon Pay, is being built completely by the India team,” he said.

A lot of key components for global products and businesses —Rakuten TV, Rakuten Music and digital media streaming products and Rakuten App Store— were being developed in India, he said.

“At Rakuten, we are building an NFT marketplace. All these are being built by India. All of them have top line and bottom line contributions. So I would say India has a high contribution,” Gopinath said, referring to non-fungible tokens which are all the rage.

https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/...es-by-2023-7468351.html  

https://sixthsense.rakuten.com/  

https://corp.rakuten.co.in/news/

 

Un-Limit plan of Rakuten offers only unlimited data when customers use Rakuten‘s radio network, but there is a cap of 5GB, if the network is relying on KDDI. Mr. Owen ignored: If Rakuten cover more and more with the own network, it will win additional users with high data-consuming.
 

European Telcos Sound Alarm Over Flagging Open RAN Progress

Deutsche Telekom, Orange, and others warn the continent is falling behind the U.S. and Japan

MICHAEL KOZIOL 21 DEC 2021

European telecom companies recently sounded an alarm that they may be falling behind the rest of the world in their efforts to develop open-interface radio access network (RAN) technologies. The technologies, called Open RAN and which would provide new ways to mix and match network components by “opening up” the interfaces between them, are widely believed to be an important opportunity to drive down the costs of network deployments and allow new players to enter a rigid market.

Five companies—Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, and Vodafone—published a report outlining why they feel Europe as a whole is lagging behind other regions such as the U.S. and Japan in developing Open RAN.

That has allowed U.S.-based companies like Mavenir and Parallel Wireless, and Japanese companies like Rakuten, to set the pace for Open RAN development, according to an email from Fransz Seiser, the Vice President of Access Disaggregation at Deutsche Telekom.

https://spectrum.ieee.org/telecom-development
 

Open RAN networks have crossed the chasm and are here to stay

In summary, Open RAN networks have crossed the chasm and are here to stay, enabling wireless best of breed RAN networks to be deployed faster and at lower costs, thus helping MNOs to deliver state-of-the-art broadband services across the globe.

https://www.thefastmode.com/technology-solutions/...crossed-the-chasm
 

Bist du noch in Alibaba und was meinst du wie es da weitergeht?  

dazu schreibe ich auf dem Alibaba-Board  

242 billion yen (about $2.2 billion) from issuing new shares to Japan Post Holdings, Walmart and  Tencent and 300 billion yen (about  $2.7 billion  from bonds are after my estimates enough to expand the business, because in 2023 the cash flow from operations will get positiv again and increase big in the following years.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Business-deals/...art-and-Japan-Post

https://global.rakuten.com/corp/investors/stock/bond.html