Japan’s number two and three MNOs, KDDI and Softbank, are using network sharing systems from Ericsson to deploy a multi-operator RAN (MORAN) for the first time in the country. The MNOs will keep their own core, operations and management capabilities, but will reduce cost and accelerate build-out by sharing active and passive RAN infrastructure. They believe this will help them to expand and densify their 5G networks rapidly and improve their competitive position against market leader NTT Docomo and disruptive new entrant Rakuten Mobile, which claims its cloud-native architecture will enable it to deploy 5G at a fast pace. KDDI and Softbank are using the Ericsson Radio System for baseband, radios and transport, and are also implementing the vendor’s Spectrum…