- MobiFone to pilot Open RAN 4G/5G in Vietnam with support from Rakuten Symphony
- Project leverages Japan’s O-RAN deployment experience and NEDO-funded 5G research
What happened: Japan’s Open RAN experience to guide Vietnam trial
Vietnamese telecom operator MobiFone and Japan’s Rakuten Symphony have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to trial 4G and 5G Open RAN technology. This pilot will position Vietnam among the first countries in Southeast Asia to test Open RAN systems for commercial use.
Rakuten Symphony will supply the O-RAN equipment, drawing on its deployment experience in Japan. The company will also bring in ecosystem partners to assist with installation, testing, and operational support. MobiFone will provide the core network and tower infrastructure needed to run the trial.
This collaboration builds on Rakuten’s success with Japan’s Open RAN deployments, including its work with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) on post-5G network infrastructure. Those technical insights will guide the Vietnam pilot, helping ensure real-world readiness of the system.
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Why it is important
For MobiFone, this marks a strategic step toward technological independence. The telco aims to become a leading digital services provider by 2030, and Open RAN plays a crucial role in that roadmap. The technology allows greater flexibility, vendor diversity, and cost efficiency compared to traditional network models.
Open RAN’s architecture could also help Vietnam accelerate nationwide 5G adoption, particularly in underserved areas. By reducing vendor lock-in, operators may deploy infrastructure faster and at lower cost — key factors in expanding access to high-speed mobile internet.
The partnership highlights Rakuten’s growing influence in global telecom transformation. Just last week, Rakuten Symphony signed a similar Open RAN pilot deal with Zain Kuwait, expanding its O-RAN footprint in the Middle East. These projects reflect growing interest in cloud-native and virtualised radio access networks as a viable alternative to legacy systems
