📋 Tender Overview
The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC; Governor: HAYASHI Nobumitsu) signed today a loan agreement amounting to up to EUR800 million, of which JBIC’s portion is EUR300 million, with United Internet AG (United Internet) in Germany. The loan is co-financed with private financial institutions*1, and JBIC will provide a guarantee for part of the co-financed portion.
United Internet is a leading European internet specialist that provides fixed-line and mobile telecommunication services, as well as cloud services. The loan is intended to provide the necessary funds for United Internet to establish, through its subsidiary 1&1 AG (1&1) of Germany, a 5G network based on Open RAN technology*2 in Germany with multiple software products for fully virtualized mobile networks developed by Rakuten Symphony, Inc. (Rakuten Symphony).
1&1, jointly with Rakuten Symphony, has built Europe’s first fully virtualized mobile network based on Open RAN technology. Such initiatives help establish a safe and high-quality network environment in Germany. The loan aims to support the development of infrastructure to enable Japanese companies expanding into Germany to utilize ICT (information and communication technology) in their local business operations. The loan is provided under the function enhanced by the full enforcement of the Act for Partial Amendment of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation Act*3 on October 1, 2023. This legal amendment has made loans available to eligible foreign companies that support infrastructure necessary for Japanese companies' overseas business.
The German government launched the 5G Strategy for Germany in July 2017 with the aim of rolling out 5G networks by 2025. The strategy promotes the release of the 5G frequency spectrum and the development of fiber optic cables. In addition, during the 8th Japan-Germany ICT Policy Dialogue held in November 2024, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan and the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport of Germany recognized the importance of ensuring the safety of communication networks by using technologies such as Open RAN. They also agreed to further deepen cooperation in both public and private sectors of the countries. Furthermore, in the Infrastructure System Overseas Promotion Strategy 2025 (supplemented in June 2023), the government of Japan emphasizes the importance of supporting overseas expansion in the digital sector by promoting the deployment of Japanese companies' products and systems abroad. This particularly includes ensuring secure and open 5G and related infrastructure, such as Open RAN technology, which serve as the foundation for utilizing digital technologies. The loan aligns with the policies of both Japanese and German governments as it contributes to the expansion of 5G networks based on Open RAN technology.
As Japan's policy-based financial institution, JBIC will continue to support improving the business environment of
