Announcing New Business Development to Provide Cloud-Native Mobile Core Technology to Telecommunications Carriers

SORACOM, Inc. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Ken Tamagawa) announced today that it will begin providing its cloud-native mobile core technology, which it has developed and operated in-house since its founding, to domestic and international telecommunications carriers.

This new business will offer the software that has long supported SORACOM's communication services as a managed cloud service. By leveraging cloud-native infrastructure, SORACOM will act as an enabler, providing telecommunications carriers and new entrants with the foundational systems and operational know-how necessary for flexible feature implementation.

SORACOM has redesigned and developed its mobile core functions with cloud computing environments in mind, operating them in-house. Its distributed system, which implements interfaces compliant with 3GPP standards, connects to the RAN and the core networks of carrier partners, while fully incorporating web and cloud best practices behind the scenes. The service has been provided in a microservices architecture, with all functions linked via APIs, since 2015.

The architecture, featuring horizontal scalability and cross-datacenter redundancy across all layers, enables capacity expansion and software updates without service interruption. It achieves high availability through distributed deployment across multiple locations and regions with automatic recovery, as well as high agility that allows for rapid reflection of the latest technologies and user feedback.

The AI/IoT communication platform "SORACOM" connects to over 200 countries and 550 telecommunications carriers worldwide, supporting IoT connectivity globally. Approximately 10 years of commercial track record across diverse industries attests to the platform's reliability.

Prior to the external deployment of its cloud-native mobile core technology, SORACOM has already completed verification in commercial environments. Misora Connect, Inc., a joint venture with the Marubeni I-DIGIO Group, was established as a full MVNO utilizing NTT Docomo lines and initially adopted mobile core software from an external vendor. With SORACOM's technical support, the company has now migrated its subscriber management function (HSS) to SORACOM's managed service. Development is underway for other components, and the company will continue to pursue in-house development. This will lead to reduced total costs for equipment construction and operation, as well as flexible service design through software.

Many operators, both domestically and internationally, face challenges with cost structures dependent on existing telecommunications equipment and rigid service designs. SORACOM will provide mobile core functions such as subscriber management, packet forwarding, voice call proxy, and messaging, in cloud or managed service formats, to MNOs (Mobile Network Operators), MVNOs, and operators that provide communication services to their own customers (e.g., enterprise MVNOs).

Furthermore, by combining this with the "SORACOM Downstream Billing Platform," which enables wholesale pricing for partners, resale, and charging/billing to end-users, it brings flexibility to end-user service design.

The SORACOM Downstream Billing Platform is a billing and invoicing system that seamlessly integrates with SORACOM's line management. It provides a foundation for telecommunications carriers and companies deploying IoT products to quickly launch subscription-based businesses.

Key features include:

Flexible pricing design: Allows free design of data communication bundles, monthly/annual plans, etc.

Customer and partner management: Supports a wide range of management, from account management to multi-tiered billing management through resale partners.

Provision under own brand: Enables seamless service operation, including issuing invoices under the company's own brand name.

By utilizing this platform, SORACOM aims to support customers in building subscription-based services under their own brands and rapidly providing them to partners and end-users, leveraging SORACOM's communication services as a foundation.

SORACOM will promote this new business as a new growth pillar to support telecommunications carriers in solving their challenges, by leveraging the technology, operational know-how, and global business foundation accumulated through its IoT platform business.

About SORACOM

The AI/IoT platform SORACOM provides IoT communications that connect to over 200 countries and regions worldwide, along with the applications and devices necessary for utilizing IoT, all in one stop. It is utilized by customers in various industries and scales, from industrial DX in manufacturing, energy, and payments, to innovative startups, and initiatives supporting sustainable local communities such as agriculture and disaster prevention.

SORACOM Corporate Site https://soracom.com

Inquiries regarding this news

SORACOM, Inc. Public Relations

Contact: Tabuchi

pr@soracom.jp