Rakuten Symphony and Viva Bolivia Sign MoU to Modernize Digital Infrastructure with Open RAN and AI

Telecommunications companies Viva Bolivia and Rakuten Symphony have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore a strategic partnership aimed at modernizing the Bolivian operator’s network infrastructure. The agreement marks an initial step toward transforming Viva's operations through cloud-native technologies, Open RAN, and AI-enabled platforms, rather than committing to a full-scale commercial deployment at this stage.

The collaboration will evaluate, through a phased rollout, Open RAN technologies, OSS systems, cloud infrastructure, professional services, and AI-enabled digital platforms. The first phase will focus on analyzing cloud-native technologies that simplify network operations and establish the technological foundation for new digital services in Bolivia. The companies have already established an initial roadmap and are moving toward the planning and validation phases.

One of the key elements of the collaboration will be the evolution of the network toward a more open and cloud-native architecture. For Viva, the goal is to have a more flexible telecommunications infrastructure capable of incorporating new services and features without relying on traditional network architectures. The adoption of Open RAN can help separate different components of the radio access network and facilitate the use of interoperable technologies and vendors, paving the way for more programmable architectures and greater automation of operations.

The strategy also incorporates artificial intelligence capabilities for network management. Rakuten Symphony and Viva will evaluate platforms that enable the use of AI to optimize operations and improve infrastructure efficiency, as part of an evolution toward increasingly automated networks. This convergence of telecommunications, cloud, and AI is expected to accelerate service launches and improve operational efficiency for the operator.

"Modernizing our network in Bolivia is not a single project, but the foundation of a larger journey. Viva is evolving into a digital ecosystem where connectivity, commerce, payments and personalized services come together in one experience for our customers," said Ryan Alvarez, CEO of Viva Bolivia. "Collaborating with Rakuten Symphony gives us a cloud-native platform to launch new services faster, improve the customer experience and operate more efficiently, and Rakuten's own path from online services into mobile is a model we know works."

Viva’s technological modernization will not be limited to the access network. The operator intends to use the new infrastructure as a foundation to expand its digital ecosystem, integrating connectivity with digital commerce services, payments, and personalized experiences for its customers. Viva, operated by Nuevatel PCS of Bolivia, has been active in the Bolivian market for more than 25 years and offers nationwide coverage. The company has also begun expanding into Mexico and views this transformation as part of a strategy to evolve from a traditional telecommunications operator into a broader digital platform. The carrier has an estimated 2.5 million customers.

The agreement underscores a broader industry trend among telecom operators in Latin America to modernize legacy networks and adopt open, cloud-based architectures. By leveraging Rakuten Symphony's experience in building and operating cloud-native mobile networks, Viva aims to position itself as a digital ecosystem provider rather than a conventional carrier, potentially setting a precedent for similar transformations in the region.