Rakuten Group, Inc. is a technology conglomerate based in Tokyo, Japan, established by Hiroshi Mikitani in 1997. The company was originally founded as MDM, Inc. and later renamed to Rakuten in June 1999. Rakuten's operations are centred around the online retail marketplace, Rakuten Ichiba, and its businesses span across various sectors including financial services, digital content, and telecommunications. Rakuten Mobile, the company's telecommunications arm, is the fourth-most used mobile carrier in Japan.
The company went public through an IPO on the JASDAQ market on April 19, 2000. Rakuten's ownership is held publicly, with shares traded on the stock market. Hiroshi Mikitani, the founder, is a significant shareholder. Over the years, Rakuten has made numerous investments and acquisitions, expanding its reach and diversifying its portfolio. Despite its global presence, the primary focus of its operations remains in Japan.
4G Network
Previously operating as an MVNO, launched a commercial network in April 2020, initially with a single B3 (1800 MHz) LTE carrier. Rakuten holds a maximum of 20 MHz of B3/n3 (1800 MHz) spectrum, many licence areas only permit operation in a 5 MHz channel, severely limiting the carrier's performance.
4G Frequency Bands
| Network Frequency Band | Max. Channel Bandwidth | Status | Known EARFCNs |
|---|---|---|---|
|
20
|
Active
|
1500
|
4G Network Events
| Date | Event | Subtype |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Launch of 4G Network
|
Launch
|
5G Network
Shortly following the 4G launch, in October that year the company's 5G network was launched using n77 (3700 MHz) and n257 (28 GHz) mmWave. The network is Standalone (SA).
5G Frequency Bands
| Network Frequency Band | Max. Channel Bandwidth | Status | Known EARFCNs |
|---|---|---|---|
|
20
|
Active
|
||
|
100
|
Active
|
653952
|
|
|
400
|
Active
|
5G Network Events
| Date | Event | Subtype |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Launch of 5G Network
|
Launch
|