Rakuten Symphony and BSNL’s 5G Pilot in India

The telecommunications landscape in India is poised for a transformative leap as Rakuten Symphony, the telecom arm of Japan’s Rakuten Group, has announced a strategic partnership with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to launch a 5G pilot project. This collaboration, revealed during the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, not only strengthens India’s push for indigenous 5G technology but also signals a groundbreaking move to export Indian-made telecom equipment to Japan. Here’s an in-depth exploration of this partnership, its implications, and its role in shaping the future of telecom in India and beyond.

Background: Rakuten Symphony and BSNL

Rakuten Symphony: A Pioneer in Open RAN

Rakuten Symphony, a subsidiary of Rakuten Group, is a global leader in cloud-native, Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) technology. Unlike traditional telecom networks that rely on proprietary hardware from vendors like Nokia or Ericsson, Open RAN allows operators to mix and match interoperable hardware and software from multiple vendors. This approach reduces costs, enhances flexibility, and accelerates innovation. Rakuten’s own 4G and 5G networks in Japan, built entirely on Open RAN, serve as a proof of concept for this disruptive model.

Rakuten Symphony has been aggressively expanding its footprint, offering end-to-end solutions for telecom operators worldwide. Its portfolio includes virtualized radio access networks (vRAN), cloud-native core networks, and AI-driven automation tools, making it a key player in the global 5G rollout.

BSNL: India’s State-Owned Telecom Giant

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), India’s state-run telecom operator, has been working to regain its competitive edge in a market dominated by private players like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. With a vast network of over 100,000 4G towers and plans to upgrade to 5G within eight months, BSNL is leveraging government support and the “Make in India” initiative to deploy homegrown telecom solutions. BSNL’s focus on indigenous technology aligns with India’s broader goal of reducing dependence on foreign equipment and fostering local innovation.

The Partnership: Key Details

Announcement and Scope

On October 13, 2025, Rakuten Symphony and BSNL unveiled their collaboration to conduct a 5G pilot in India, focusing on deploying Indian-manufactured telecom gear. The pilot will test Rakuten’s Open RAN-based 5G solutions integrated with equipment from Indian vendors such as HFCL and Tejas Networks. Additionally, Rakuten has committed to using this Indian-made gear in its own networks in Japan, marking a significant milestone for India’s telecom manufacturing sector.

The partnership was formalized during IMC 2025, a premier telecom event in New Delhi, where industry leaders gathered to discuss 5G, 6G, AI, and satellite communications. The pilot is expected to pave the way for a broader rollout of 5G services across BSNL’s network, which serves millions of subscribers, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.

Objectives of the Pilot

Testing Indigenous 5G Equipment: The project will evaluate the performance, scalability, and reliability of Indian-made 5G gear in real-world conditions.
Open RAN Integration: Rakuten’s expertise in Open RAN will help BSNL deploy a cost-effective, flexible 5G network that reduces reliance on traditional vendors.
Export Opportunities: By deploying Indian equipment in Japan, Rakuten aims to showcase the global competitiveness of India’s telecom manufacturing.
Accelerating 5G Rollout: The pilot aligns with BSNL’s goal to upgrade all 4G towers to 5G by mid-2026, enhancing nationwide connectivity.

Key Players Involved

Rakuten Symphony: Provides Open RAN software, cloud-native platforms, and technical expertise.
BSNL: Supplies network infrastructure and local market knowledge.
Indian Vendors (HFCL, Tejas Networks): Contribute domestically produced 5G equipment, including radios and antennas.
Government of India: Supports the initiative through policies like “Make in India” and funding for indigenous R&D.

Why This Partnership Matters

1. Boosting India’s “Make in India” Initiative

India’s government has prioritized self-reliance in critical sectors, including telecommunications. By partnering with Rakuten Symphony, BSNL is not only adopting cutting-edge 5G technology but also showcasing Indian-manufactured equipment on a global stage. The export of HFCL and Tejas Networks’ gear to Japan could open doors for Indian vendors in other markets, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers like Nokia, Ericsson, and Huawei.

Market Impact: Following the announcement, shares of HFCL and Tejas Networks surged by 5-8% on Indian stock exchanges, reflecting investor confidence in the growth potential of domestic telecom manufacturing.

2. Advancing Open RAN Adoption

Open RAN is revolutionizing telecom by breaking the monopoly of traditional vendors. Rakuten’s success in Japan has demonstrated that Open RAN can deliver high-performance 5G networks at lower costs. By bringing this expertise to India, Rakuten Symphony is helping BSNL build a future-ready network that can easily integrate new technologies like AI and edge computing.

Global Context: The partnership aligns with a broader shift toward Open RAN, with 47% of wide-area networks expected to adopt this model by the end of 2025, according to EY’s 2025 telecom risk report.

3. Strengthening BSNL’s Competitive Position

BSNL has lagged behind private operators in India’s 4G and 5G race. The collaboration with Rakuten Symphony provides BSNL with access to state-of-the-art technology and expertise, enabling it to accelerate its 5G rollout. This is critical for retaining customers and competing with Jio and Airtel, which have already deployed 5G across major cities.

Consumer Impact: Faster 5G deployment will bring high-speed internet, low-latency applications, and enhanced digital services to millions of BSNL subscribers, particularly in underserved regions.

4. Economic and Strategic Implications

At IMC 2025, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia highlighted that telecom’s contribution to India’s GDP is expected to rise from 14% to 20% by 2037, with 6G alone projected to add $1.2 trillion by 2035. The Rakuten-BSNL partnership positions India as a hub for telecom innovation, potentially attracting more foreign investment and fostering job creation in manufacturing and R&D.

Geopolitical Angle: As China restricts foreign telecom suppliers like Nokia and Ericsson (reported on October 2, 2025), India’s focus on indigenous equipment could position it as an alternative supplier in the global market, especially for Open RAN solutions.

Technical and Operational Insights

How the Pilot Will Work

Network Architecture: The pilot will use Rakuten’s cloud-native 5G core and Open RAN radio units, integrated with Indian-made hardware. This setup allows for virtualized network functions, reducing the need for physical infrastructure.
Testing Parameters: The pilot will assess metrics like network throughput, latency, coverage, and energy efficiency. Trials are likely to occur in urban and rural areas to evaluate performance across diverse conditions.
AI and Automation: Rakuten’s AI-driven network orchestration tools will optimize resource allocation and fault detection, ensuring high reliability.

Challenges to Address

Interoperability: Integrating Indian hardware with Rakuten’s software requires rigorous testing to ensure compatibility and performance.
Scalability: Scaling the pilot to a nationwide 5G network will demand significant investment and coordination.
Competition: BSNL faces pressure from Jio and Airtel, which have larger market shares and more advanced 5G deployments.
Regulatory Hurdles: Navigating spectrum allocation and compliance with India’s telecom regulations could pose challenges.

Broader Industry Implications

For India

Economic Growth: The partnership supports India’s ambition to become a $5 trillion economy by fostering innovation and exports in telecom.
Digital Inclusion: BSNL’s focus on rural areas will bridge the digital divide, bringing 5G benefits like telemedicine and smart agriculture to remote regions.
Startup Ecosystem: The success of HFCL and Tejas Networks could inspire more Indian startups to enter the telecom hardware space.

For Global Telecom

Open RAN Momentum: Rakuten’s collaboration with BSNL reinforces Open RAN’s viability, encouraging other operators to adopt this model.
Supply Chain Diversification: As geopolitical tensions (e.g., China’s restrictions) disrupt global supply chains, India could emerge as a key supplier of telecom equipment.
AI Integration: Rakuten’s AI-driven approach aligns with industry trends, as seen in Huawei’s AI monetization platform and Omantel’s Enterprise Brain (both announced in October 2025).

What’s Next?

The Rakuten-BSNL pilot is expected to yield initial results by Q1 2026, with insights shaping BSNL’s nationwide 5G rollout. Key milestones to watch include:

Pilot Outcomes: Performance data on Indian equipment and Open RAN integration.
Export Contracts: Confirmation of Indian gear deployment in Japan’s Rakuten network.
Policy Support: Additional government incentives for indigenous telecom manufacturing.
Industry Events: Updates at Network X 2025 (October 14-16, Paris) may provide further details on Open RAN advancements.

BSNL’s plan to upgrade all 4G towers to 5G by mid-2026 will hinge on the success of this pilot, making it a critical step in India’s telecom evolution.

Conclusion

The Rakuten Symphony-BSNL partnership marks a pivotal moment for India’s telecom sector. By combining Rakuten’s Open RAN expertise with BSNL’s infrastructure and Indian-made equipment, this 5G pilot has the potential to redefine how telecom networks are built and deployed. It strengthens India’s position as a global telecom innovator, supports economic growth, and accelerates digital inclusion. As the pilot progresses, it will be exciting to see how this collaboration shapes the future of 5G in India and beyond.