India’s IT and software major, Tech Mahindra Ltd. has reportedly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan’s electronic commerce and telecom company, Rakuten Inc. for building next-generation 5G software-based network laboratories in Bengaluru and Tokyo.
As per an official statement, CP Gurnani, Managing Director and CEO, Tech Mahindra said that the collaboration with Rakuten will effectively help them further drive innovation in the 5G space and enable the company to enhance its customer experience, and lead the transformation in mobile network technology.
Reportedly, Rakuten is close to launching its fourth mobile network in Japan, after rivals KDDI Corp., NTT Docomo, and Softbank Group, with investment of over USD 5 billion.
According to The Economic Times, Mickey Mikitani, Chairman, President and CEO, Rakuten, Inc. said that with Tech Mahindra’s capabilities in the 5G domain, including its mobile networks, cloud, IT, and enterprise applications, and Rakuten’s vision to create a completely automated 5G network in Japan and beyond, the labs in Bengaluru and Tokyo and will focus on developing innovation in the telecom sector.
The company is thrilled to join forces with Tech Mahindra to launch world-class labs, that will effectively contribute towards developing next generation 5G enabled mobile broadband services, Mikitani added.
Incidentally, the announcement comes soon after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan as to further strengthen business ties between India and Japan. Sources cite that the network labs in Bengaluru and Tokyo will focus on developing innovation in the telecom and banking sectors, by utilizing Tech Mahindra’s expertise in the 5G domain.
Moreover, the collaboration will aim on developing high-speed mobile network technology that enhances customer experience for users in Japan and India.
Reliable sources suggest that Tech Mahindra, as a part of the deal, will also provide network integration capabilities to add value to the lab operations.
