Rakuten Symphony has partnered with SLT-Mobitel, Sri Lanka’s national telecom operator, to launch a pilot Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) that integrates 4G and 5G non-standalone (NSA) and standalone (SA) sites across the country.
The project leverages Rakuten Symphony’s Open RAN solutions, including virtualized centralized and distributed units, as well as pre-certified third-party 4G and 5G radio units. This collaboration aims to boost SLT-Mobitel’s network flexibility, scalability, and efficiency — setting the foundation for a nationwide Open RAN rollout.
The initiative is part of a broader Rakuten Mobile-led program, supported by the Japanese government, to accelerate Open RAN adoption globally. Similar projects are underway in India, Vietnam, Kuwait, and Kenya.
This will be among the first Open RAN deployments in South Asia, highlighting Sri Lanka’s growing interest in open, interoperable telecom infrastructure. It follows Rakuten Symphony’s recent collaboration with Grameenphone in Bangladesh, which is also preparing for a nationwide Open RAN network serving over 86 million users.
Despite these advancements, the global Open RAN market remains cautious, with telecom operators closely evaluating cost, performance, and vendor diversity before large-scale adoption.
