Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Rakuten Symphony and Kyivstar Sign Letter of Intent to Deploy Open RAN to Rebuild Ukraine's Digital Infrastructure

26/02/2024

26 Feb 2024

Rakuten Symphony and Kyivstar Sign Letter of Intent to Deploy Open RAN to Rebuild Ukraine's Digital Infrastructure Companies intend to take the first steps in implementation in 2024

Barcelona, February 26, 2024 - VEON, (NASDAQ: VEON, Euronext Amsterdam: VEON), a global digital operator that provides converged connectivity and online services, today announces that its wholly-owned subsidiary Kyivstar and Rakuten Symphony, a subsidiary of the leading internet services company Rakuten Group have signed of a Letter of Intent (LoI) that confirms Kyivstar's interest in procuring and deploying Rakuten Symphonys Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) technology in its network.

The LoI confirms Kyivstar's intent to use Rakuten's Open RAN and 5G technologies to help rebuild Ukraines digital infrastructure, reinforcing both companies' commitment to supporting Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction. The companies intend to take the first steps in the implementation of their cooperation within 2024. Kyivstar and Rakuten Symphony are currently collaborating to define the scope of their initiative, which will involve both 4G and 5G Open RAN technology.

Rakuten and VEON celebrated the signing of the LoI between Rakuten Symphony and Kyivstar at the MWC24 Barcelona. Left to right: Volodymyr Lutchenko, Kyivstar CTO; Lasha Tabidze, VEON Group Digital Operator Officer; Mickey Mikitani, Group Chairman and CEO, Rakuten; Vice Minister Hiroshi Yoshida, Vice-Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan; Kaan Terzioglu, VEON Group CEO; Oleksandr Komarov, Kyivstar CEO and Hideyuki Hirama, EVP, COO and CSO, Rakuten Symphony.

Rakuten and Kyivstar held a signing ceremony for the LoI in the presence of Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan, and Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine, at the Japan-Ukraine Conference for Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction, hosted in Tokyo on February 19, with Hideyuki Hirama, EVP, COO and CSO of Rakuten Symphony, and Sergiy Korsunsky, Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan, in attendance.

Keidanren

Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO, Rakuten Group, said, Rakuten is extremely proud to continue its support for Ukraine's efforts to rebuild its infrastructure and in supporting Kyivstar's vision for deploying Open RAN. We look forward to advancing collaboration between our two organizations and to realising Ukraine's digital potential through the rebuilding of the country's digital infrastructure.

Kaan Terzioglu, Group CEO of VEON, said We are now in the implementation phase of our 600 million USD investment commitment for the reconstruction of Ukraine. I share the excitement of our Kyivstar team, under the leadership of Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov, in working with Rakuten to rebuild the country's infrastructure with Open RAN as a part of this commitment. We have a shared passion for building Ukraine's digital future and I'm glad to see the progress in our joint effort.

The signing follows a number of measures taken by Rakuten and VEON to support Ukraine throughout the war, demonstrating a commitment to its people, economy and post-war reconstruction. In August 2023, Rakuten Symphony and VEON, Kyivstar's parent company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore cooperation in Ukraine, with the goal of accelerating the reconstruction of the country's infrastructure, through collaboration on Open RAN and digital services.

Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani accompanied Japanese government officials on a diplomatic mission to Ukraine in September 2023. Serving as a representative of Japan's private sector, Mikitani met with Ukraine leaders including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister for Innovation, Development of Education, Science and Technology and Minister of Digital Transformation.

Rakuten also launched the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Emergency Relief Fund through its online donation platform, Rakuten Clutch Special Charity Fund, and held a t-shirt donation drive to support Ukraine that raised more than 1.3 billion yen.

VEON's Kyivstar, the largest telecommunications operator in Ukraine, has kept its 24 million customers connected at home and abroad throughout the past two years, and continued to invest heavily in its network and digital services. One of the largest taxpayers in Ukraine, Kyivstar also supports a number of charitable causes, most recently raising 4.8 million USD for the demining of Ukraine.

VEON has committed 600 million USD in investments over three years, supporting Ukraine's reconstruction and recovery; and has announced the intention to widen the scope of its commitment to 1 billion USD in five years, if market conditions permit.

About VEON

VEON is a global digital operator that currently provides converged connectivity and online services to nearly 160 million customers in six dynamic markets. We are transforming people's lives, empowering individuals, creating opportunities for greater digital inclusion and driving economic growth across countries that are home to more than 7% of the world's population. Headquartered in Amsterdam, VEON is listed on NASDAQ and Euronext Amsterdam. For more information, visit: https://www.veon.com

About Kyivstar

Kyivstar is the largest telecoms operator in Ukraine with 24 million mobile subscribers and over 1.1 million home internet subscribers. The company provides services based on mobile and fixed-line technologies, including 4G, as well as Big Data, IoT, cloud solutions, digital TV, digital health and others. Kyivstar is 100% owned by the international VEON Group, headquartered in the Netherlands and listed on NASDAQ and Euronext Amsterdam stock exchanges. For more information visit: https://www.kyivstar.ua.

About Ra
LINK: https://www.veon.com/newsroom/press-releases/rakuten-symphony-and-kyiv...
See more stories from vimpel

Europe Stories

05/12/2025

The Grinch steals the spotlight as the theme for The Late Late Toy Show 2025

The Grinch steals the spotlight as the theme for The Late Late Toy Show 2025 Tune in tonight at 9:35pm on RT One and worldwide on RT Player #LateLateToyShow...

05/12/2025

RT Announces New Presenters of Flagship News Programmes

RT Announces New Presenters of Flagship News Programmes New RT Six One News co-presenter Tommy Meskill Sarah McInerney & Justin McCarthy join Morning Ir...

04/12/2025

ToolsOnAir Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Event Presets for just:in mac pro 2025 & just:in linux

ToolsOnAir Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Event Presets for just:in mac pro 2025 & ...

04/12/2025

ToolsOnAir AJA Ki Pro Event Presets for just:in mac pro 2025 & just:in linux

ToolsOnAir AJA Ki Pro Event Presets for just:in mac pro 2025 & just:in linux More Details:Starting with version 5.5, both just:in mac pro and just:in linux sol...

04/12/2025

Young Journalist finalists looking to the future

Wangu Kanuri from Kenya and Godwin Asediba from Ghana are two of this years finalists for Thomsons Young Journalist of the Year Award. The pair are runners-up i...

04/12/2025

RT Statement: Eurovision Song Contest 2026

Following today's EBU Winter General Assembly in Geneva at which Israel's participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest was confirmed, RT 's pos...

04/12/2025

Sky set to co-produce the story behind the worlds most famous whale

Thursday 4 December 2025 Sky set to co-produce the story behind the world's most famous whale Image Credit - Free Willy Keiko Foundation Sky will co-pro...

04/12/2025

Sky Original documentary Murder at the Post Office to air on Sky and streaming service NOW

Thursday 4 December 2025 Sky Original documentary Murder at the Post Office to ...

04/12/2025

85% of Media Companies Plan Archiving Overhaul as Legacy Systems Struggle

OBJECT MATRIX OverviewObject Matrix OM Cloud Quattro SWARMOverviewSwarmSingle Node Swarm Ngenea Pixstor Swarm Support Object Matrix Support Pixstor & N...

04/12/2025

FOX Advertising Announces Plans for 2026 Upfront Presentation

FOX Advertising Announces Plans for 2026 Upfront Presentation Annual Presentation for Advertisers to Take Place Monday, May 11 at New Location, the Historic N...

04/12/2025

Hyundai renew its sponsorship of Dancing with the Stars

The ninth series of Dancing with the Stars returns to screens in early 2026 and will be proudly sponsored by Hyundai Filling our Sunday evenings with glitz an...

03/12/2025

ToolsOnAir Composition Builder 2025 Boilerplate

ToolsOnAir Composition Builder 2025 Boilerplate More Details: The Composition Builder 2025 application for macOS enables TV stations and Live Event broadcast...

03/12/2025

ToolsOnAr just:live pro 2025 Boilerplate

ToolsOnAr just:live pro 2025 Boilerplate More Details: just:live pro 2025 is a Single Channel Live Production Playout solution for video and static or real-t...

03/12/2025

ToolsOnAr just:play pro 2025 Boilerplate

ToolsOnAr just:play pro 2025 Boilerplate More Details: just:play pro 2025 is a Single Channel automated 24/7 Master Control playout solution with SD, HD and ...

03/12/2025

ToolsOnAr live:cut 2025 Boilerplate

ToolsOnAr live:cut 2025 Boilerplate More Details: live:cut is an option to just:in mac pro 2025 and enables multicamera production workflows for up to 16 cam...

03/12/2025

ToolsOnAir Just In Mac Lite NDI 2025 Boilerplate

ToolsOnAir Just In Mac Lite NDI 2025 Boilerplate More Details: The Just In Mac Lite NDI application is a streamlined media capture solution designed specific...

03/12/2025

ToolsOnAir Just In Mac Lite 2025 Boilerplate

ToolsOnAir Just In Mac Lite 2025 Boilerplate More Details: The Just In Mac Lite application is a streamlined media capture solution designed specifically for...

03/12/2025

ToolsOnAir just:in mac pro 2025 Boilerplate

ToolsOnAir just:in mac pro 2025 Boilerplate More Details: just:in mac pro is a macOS-based client-server multichannel capture solution to record SDI, HDMI, N...

03/12/2025

Opportunity awaits Young Journalist of the Year winner

Tracy Bonareri Onchoke, Thomson's Young Journalist of the year 2025 is hoping the accolade will be a springboard to more cross-border collaboration between ...

03/12/2025

Listeners Worldwide Crown Bad Bunny Global Top Artist for the Fourth Time and His Latest Release Takes Global Top Album

For the fourth time, Bad Bunny is the most-streamed Wrapped artist on Spotify gl...

03/12/2025

2025 Wrapped Is Here With More Layers, Stories, and Connection Than Ever Before

The wait is over. It's time to look back at the audio that defined your year with 2025 Spotify Wrapped, our annual celebration for fans, artists, creators, ...

03/12/2025

Los oyentes del mundo coronan a Bad Bunny como el Top Artista Global por cuarta vez y su ltimo lanzamiento se lleva el Top lbum Global

Por cuarta vez, Bad Bunny es el Top Artista Global de Wrapped en Spotify, con 19...

03/12/2025

These Music Trends Took 2025 in Surprising New Directions

Spotify Wrapped is back, and as always, it's powered by the billions of streams that fans around the world delivered throughout the year. From the artists w...

03/12/2025

The 2025 Wrapped Guide for Artists, Songwriters, Creators, Authors, and Advertisers

Spotify Wrapped is the moment when hundreds of millions of fans around the world...

03/12/2025

The Top Artists, Songs, Albums, Podcasts, and Audiobooks of 2025

With more than 700 million listeners around the world turning to Spotify to soundtrack their lives, it's time to look back at the audio that defined the yea...

03/12/2025

Los top artistas, canciones, lbumes, pdcasts y audiolibros de 2025

Con m s de 700 millones de oyentes en todo el mundo usando Spotify para acompa ar su d a a d a, es momento de mirar hacia atr s y ver el audio que marc el a o....

03/12/2025

Inside the 2025 Audiobook Trends on Spotify: Romantasy, Modern Classics, and What's Next

From page-turning thrillers to inspiring memoirs, audiobooks are becoming a core...

03/12/2025

Os Top Artistas, Msicas, lbuns, Podcasts e Audiolivros de 2025

Com mais de 700 milh es de ouvintes em todo o mundo recorrendo ao Spotify para embalar seu dia a dia, chega o momento de revisitar o udio que marcou o ano. Nos...

03/12/2025

How Our 2025 Wrapped Campaign Turns Your Year in Listening Into a Global Celebration

Spotify Wrapped celebrates the audio that defined our year, and the annual globa...

03/12/2025

Riedel and Haivision Join Forces to Advance Wireless Video Transmission

Wuppertal December 3, 2025 Riedel and Haivision Join Forces to Advance Wireless Video TransmissionRiedel Communications today announced a new partnership with...

03/12/2025

Take Five with Emily

Tell us a little bit about your job I am a Digital Marketing Executive working on Paid Social, PPC, and Organic Social. I joined the team in May 2025 and am enj...

03/12/2025

Harmonic and Normann Engineering Achieve Major Milestone with 20 Broadband Deployments Across Europe

SAN JOSE, Calif. and VIENNA - Dec. 3, 2025 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) and Normann...

03/12/2025

Tidings of sport across RT this Christmas

S an Nollaig Celebrate 2025's top Irish sporting stars with RT Sport Awards live from RT Studios on RT One and RT Player RT pays tribute to Ror...

02/12/2025

Clear-Com's Gen-IC Virtual Intercom Delivers Fast, Flexible Communications for...

eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({...

02/12/2025

International organizations align at International AI Standards Summit

-- The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Telecommunication Unio...

02/12/2025

Harmonic Powers Telia's Next-Generation Broadband Upgrade in Norway

Harmonic's cOS Platform Will Redefine Subscribers' Quality of Experience, Lowering Churn SAN JOSE, Calif. - Dec. 2, 2025 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today...

02/12/2025

All I want for Christmas is movies: RT unwraps hours of Festive films

S an Nollaig Hollywood blockbusters The Banshees of Inisherin, Barbie and Oppenheimer make their Irish TV debut Tune into the classics such as Love Actual...

02/12/2025

RT and Fs ireann/Screen Ireland unveil four new Storyland dramas for 2025

Showcasing fresh Irish storytelling and emerging talent Storyland 2025 signals a fantastic time for Irish drama RT and F s ireann/Screen Ireland are proud to...

01/12/2025

Oasis Live '25 Tour Brings The Biggest Band of the

MANCHESTER, UK - November 2025 - Announced two days before the 30th anniversary of Oasis' debut album, Definitely Maybe, the Oasis Live '25 tour marks t...

01/12/2025

Kyivstar and Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation Select Google Gemma as the Foundation for Ukraine's National LLM

01 Dec 2025 Kyivstar and Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation Select Go...

01/12/2025

Sky unveils official trailer for highly anticipated prequel Gomorrah The Origins coming to Sky and NOW early 2026

The prequel to the global hit Sky Original mob crime saga, Gomorrah' is a s...

01/12/2025

Step inside Nick Caves Veiled World a one-off special featuring Florence Welch, Flea and more, premiering 6 December on Sky and NOW

Featuring Florence Welch, Red Hot Chilli Peppers' Flea, designer Bella Freud...

01/12/2025

Fox Corporation Chief Financial Officer Steve Tomsic to Participate in Upcoming UBS Global Media and Communications Conference 2025

Fox Corporation Chief Financial Officer Steve Tomsic to Participate in Upcoming ...

01/12/2025

Arvato Systems' Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) Receives BSI C5 Certification (Type 2) Following Audit by HLB Stckmann

Arvato Systems' Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) Receives BSI C5 Certification (T...

01/12/2025

Consumer Magazines Returns System - 2025 Update

Summary This short video gives you an summary of the changes in under two minutes. --...

01/12/2025

From Ballet to Books: RT is Supporting 12 Arts and Cultural Events all over Ireland this December

As the festive season approaches, RT Supporting the Arts is proud to showcase a...

01/12/2025

Lights, Camera, Christmas: RT rings in the Season S an Nollaig

Festive specials of Christmas in Kilmainham presented by Marty Whelan, High Road Low Road, Callan Kicks the Year and Keys to My Life Ring in the New Year with ...

01/12/2025

Architect and presenter Hugh Wallace dies aged 68

Architect and television presenter Hugh Wallace, best known to RT audiences as a long-serving judge on Home of the Year, has died at the age of 68. In a state...

28/11/2025

4 Reasons Why Keeping Your Spotify App Updated Matters and What You Might Be Missing

It's easy to ignore those little red update available badges. But when it ...