Japanese operators, in each mobile generation, have blazed the trail for new architectures and advanced services, and 5G is no different. New mobile entrant Rakuten has claimed many of the headlines for its ambitious plan to deploy a fully cloud-native end-to-end network with open interfaces, but incumbent MNOs NTT Docomo, KDDI and Softbank are also taking creative technical and service approaches, and generating welcome new revenues for vendors. Assuming the global coronavirus panic doesn’t wreck the Tokyo Olympics this summer, the games are providing a deadline for the operators to be able to showcase their 5G services, at least in the big cities. Despite delays and unexpectedly tough challenges, Rakuten has now set a revised but firm date to launch…