A path toward industrialized interoperability

Closed systems cannot scale beyond the approach of the individual companies deploying them. While they may serve one company’s needs or interests, they don’t support a thriving, collaborative ecosystem that drives industry-wide progress. Any closed system is limited to one supplier’s choices, priorities, limitations and politics.?

We are seeing this limitation play out in telecom and other industries.?

Closed, proprietary radio systems once supported 3G and 4G networks with lower deployment density, simpler complexity and greater supplier diversity, but they fall short of meeting the demands of 5G and beyond. This is due, in part, to a lack of interoperability, which is critical in complex and heterogeneous network environments.?

The challenge with realizing open systems is interoperability and the industrialized approach required to manage the required speed, cost and scale when working with multiple suppliers.?

Interoperability enables best-of-breed selection for next-level capabilities such as AI-driven automation, machine-to-machine communication and IoT at scale. It is a cornerstone of Industry 4.0 initiatives, which depend on innovation, efficiency and scalability.?

Without interoperability, scaling new technologies and creating transformative applications becomes nearly impossible.?

At Rakuten, we have championed interoperability through initiatives like Open RAN ecosystem development, laying the groundwork for industrialized interoperability.?

We believe that by focusing on highly automated open standards, modular systems and collaborative ecosystems, stakeholders can collectively drive progress not just in our own industry but across industries like healthcare and manufacturing, too.?

Let’s take a realistic look at the role interoperability needs to play in unlocking the full potential of modern tech, the transformative opportunities industrialized interoperability presents and what must happen next to achieve it.?

Interoperability is hard but essential?

Industrialized interoperability is the seamless interaction of different systems, devices and technologies. In complex networks and systems with multiple vendors, technologies and apps, interoperability verification is an absolute requirement for achieving massive scale.?

But this is no easy task, even in environments where stakeholders understand and want to reap the rewards. That’s because for all the benefits diverse systems provide, they also introduce significant complexity. Also, not all stakeholders have the same end goals.?

Inertia eventually sets in, with legacy systems serving as a “good enough” alternative to hard change.?

Legacy systems often rely on proprietary interfaces that prioritize compatibility within a single ecosystem rather than across a broader landscape, limiting choice, innovation and solution to that one provider.?New systems require interoperability verification at scale, speed and cost, to allow the open system to be commercially viable with the performance required.??

These challenges are significant enough to slow progress and stifle innovation. And don’t forget the reality of incumbent forces that are incentivized to maintain the status quo and create friction.?

Rakuten believes that the key to overcoming these challenges lies in adopting well known open standards and modular architectures with highly automated interoperability verification. These proven interfaces and architectures create a foundation for scalable ecosystems that transcend proprietary silos and enable industries to collectively innovate.?

By enabling technologies to communicate effortlessly, industrialized interoperability supports the systems of today while powering new possibilities, as evidenced by Rakuten Mobile’s use of AI to automate deployment, optimize security settings and detect potential issues before they affect performance.?

Taking a proactive interoperability approach?

One of Rakuten’s most ambitious achievements was establishing a scaled Open RAN network integrating over 340,000 4G and 5G products across various hardware and software providers, spanning macro cells and small cells, virtualized RAN (vRAN) software, femtocell technology, 5G millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum, 5G sub-6 GHz spectrum and more. In doing this, we eliminated vendor lock-in and drove seamless interaction between components from the manufacturers that support our business.?

This has allowed us to more efficiently scale the Rakuten Mobile network, which now serves more than 8 million subscribers with market parity or better performance and radically lower cost structures, while offering real-world proof of what is possible with the right vision, commitment and investment. This milestone validates that industrialized interoperability is not just a theoretical goal but a practical, scalable approach capable of delivering real-world results in subscriber growth and network performance.

Our ambitions extend beyond telecom.?

Rakuten’s goal is to create opportunities across industries by continuing to replicate the model of driving industrialized partnerships with vendors, system integrators and other stakeholders until interoperability is the norm, not the exception.?

Creating transformative opportunities

Achieving industrialized interoperability isn’t just about solving technical integration challenges. It is about creating a platform or infrastructure that will power the innovations of tomorrow.?

For example, in logistics, interoperable systems can optimize supply chains by connecting diverse devices and applications, improving efficiency and reducing costs.?

Rakuten’s efforts to support open ecosystems highlight how these principles can apply across industries. This includes partnering with major radio players to create interoperable systems that form the building blocks of industrialized connectivity. By working with more than half a dozen manufacturers and investing in scalable solutions, we are showing how democratizing connectivity can lower costs and enable new applications in sectors like logistics and healthcare.?

On the AI front, interoperability makes it possible for systems to process and act on data from multiple sources, making automation possible while improving outcomes across applications.

Whether it’s smarter networks or automated factories, a common denominator is seamless collaboration between technologies. These developments remain a work in progress but are worthy pursuits.?

The impact of industrialized interoperability extends beyond any one industry.?

The scalability and cost-efficiency made possible by interoperability ultimately democratizes access to advanced technologies, making it possible for industries and regions with fewer resources to benefit from innovation. A level playing field can drive inclusive growth, extending the benefits of Industry 4.0 globally.?

The road ahead?

Rakuten’s pursuit of industrialized interoperability shines a light on the vast potential and accompanying complexity.?

We know that interoperability at scale is achievable. We have seen firsthand how partnerships with radio manufacturers and system integrators can lay the groundwork for broader applications of interoperability and nurture an ecosystem where devices and systems can communicate seamlessly.?

Yet, challenges remain.?

It is time to prioritize openness and cooperation and adopt shared standards and modular architectures that make interoperability the norm rather than the exception.?

Only then can the transformative potential of industrialized interoperability be fully realized.

Mention Sanjay Saraswat, Rakuten Symphony Managing Director & COO (RAN BU), in the comments to start a conversation.