KDDI Corporation and DriveNets Ltd. announced a new partnership. They signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU). This will help speed up the development and use of open networks. This will happen by breaking apart hardware and software.
The partnership aims to expand the deployment of open routers, enhance the efficiency of open network management, and optimize capital investment and operational expenditures.
Under the terms of the agreement, KDDI will introduce DriveNets’ network software into the control servers of core routers across four key sites within its backbone network infrastructure. Commercial deployment is targeted for fiscal year 2025.
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Building the Future of Scalable Networks
As the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) drives exponential growth in data traffic and increasingly diverse network demands, this partnership positions KDDI and DriveNets at the forefront of next-generation network innovation. Together, the companies aim to establish a flexible network architecture capable of rapidly responding to technological and market changes.
Industry Leadership and Technological Innovation
Since 2020, KDDI has been actively advancing open router development through its involvement in the Telecom Infra Project (TIP), focusing on cluster router technology that enables flexible capacity expansion beyond the limitations of traditional chassis-based designs. In June 2023, KDDI successfully commercialized its first open router as an internet gateway peering router, and by February 2025, completed technical validation for its use as a core router in backbone networks.
DriveNets is a leading provider of cloud-native network software adopted by major global carriers and is already supporting the stable operation of KDDI’s existing peering routers. The proven performance and scalability of DriveNets’ solutions form the foundation of this newly established strategic partnership.
