The news
- Telkom Kenya receives a $4.4 million grant from Rakuten to develop Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) technology.
- The investment aims to enhance mobile connectivity and reduce infrastructure costs across Kenya.
- The partnership includes collaboration with Airspan for 4G and 5G technology development and knowledge transfer.
Telkom Kenya has secured a $4.4 million grant from Rakuten Symphony ($3 million) and Airspan Networks ($1.4 million) to advance the development and deployment of Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) technology within the country. This strategic investment aims to enhance mobile connectivity, reduce infrastructure costs, and promote flexible network architectures across Kenya.
Open RAN technology decouples hardware and software components in telecommunications networks, allowing operators to integrate equipment from various vendors. This approach reduces operational and capital expenditures and fosters innovation by enabling more adaptable and scalable network solutions.
In January 2025, Telkom Kenya entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rakuten Symphony and Airspan to collaborate on knowledge transfer, development, and testing of Open RAN technology. This partnership encompasses the integration of 4G and 5G technologies, with Telkom Kenya providing local resources and facilities, Rakuten Symphony supplying centralised and distributed unit infrastructure along with its OSS platform, and Airspan delivering 4G and 5G radio units and mobile core solutions.
Mugo Kibati, Chief Executive Officer of Telkom Kenya, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “We are proud to be investing in the development of our people through the collaborative testing capabilities that we will be building within this consortium to explore the possible benefits of Open RAN in our mobile network.”
The adoption of Open RAN is gaining momentum in Africa due to its potential to provide cost-effective and innovative wireless communication solutions. By embracing this technology, Telkom Kenya aims to improve network performance, extend coverage to underserved regions, and accelerate the rollout of advanced mobile services.
This initiative positions Kenya as a leader in telecommunications innovation on the continent, showcasing the country’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technologies to enhance digital infrastructure and connectivity.
