On March 4, 2026, VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq: VEON) and Rakuten Group, Inc. disclosed a partnership between Beeline Uzbekistan, operated by VEON in Uzbekistan, and Rakuten Symphony, a Rakuten Group subsidiary. The collaboration aims to bolster Uzbekistan's digital economy growth. Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the entities will explore joint initiatives focusing on Open RAN advancement, AI-driven network intelligence, and next-gen digital platforms in the country.