Japan’s NEC has seen its profile in the global telecoms ecosystem steadily enhanced by 5G. This has been partly because of its role in Open RAN, developing the 5G radio and core for Rakuten’s roll-out and establishing its credentials as an alternative to the big five radio vendors, but with all the benefits of multiple decades of cellular experience with the demanding Japanese operators. However, while NEC may not previously have escaped from Japan in the RAN market, it is a global player in some other sectors that are also being transformed or expanded by 5G – notably transport and backhaul networks, orchestration (via its Netcracker subsidiary) and systems integration. This combination of capabilities has attracted partnerships with other large…