Rakuten Mobile, in collaboration with U.S. satellite designer AST SpaceMobile, has unveiled its ambitious plan to introduce a commercial satellite-to-mobile service in Japan by 2026. This innovative broadband service will enable video and voice calls directly accessible by regular smartphones, eliminating the need for a terminal connection.
The rollout timeline remains uncertain, but the coverage plan includes reaching mountainous and remote areas across Japan. This extensive coverage will be particularly advantageous during natural disasters, which often disrupt infrastructure and connectivity, as highlighted by Hiroshi Mikitani, chairman and CEO of Rakuten Group and chairman of Rakuten Mobile, during a recent media briefing.
The deployment of the necessary low earth orbit (LEO) satellites will be incremental, with the service expected to gradually expand nationwide. Mikitani emphasized that these satellites will ensure complete internet coverage across Japan.
AST SpaceMobile’s chairman and CEO, Abel Avellan, noted that due to the size of the satellites, approximately 90 of them would be sufficient to offer global coverage. However, only a few would be required to serve Japan, although he did not specify the exact number needed.
The initial phase involves launching five satellites in the second quarter of this year, followed by ramping up to four launches per month, according to Avellan.
Despite the potential of AST SpaceMobile’s technology, astronomers have raised concerns about the brightness and size of the company’s BlueWalker 3 satellite, which surpasses stars’ luminosity in the Milky Way.
Rakuten is confident that the ability to connect to the service using existing devices will make it an attractive option. Mikitani highlighted that unlike Starlink, which requires ground stations, Rakuten’s service allows customers to connect their “current cell phones using the Rakuten line,” offering a high-speed connection.
Mikitani emphasized the seamlessness of the offering, particularly in emergency situations, where quick and reliable connectivity is crucial. This focus on accessibility and reliability echoes Starlink’s approach, which has provided connections in crisis-stricken areas like Ukraine and Tonga.
In a groundbreaking achievement in April 2023, Rakuten Mobile and AST SpaceMobile successfully conducted an audio call between Texas and Tokyo, marking the first-ever space-based voice call using an ordinary smartphone.
Rakuten Group first announced its partnership with AST SpaceMobile in March 2020, with the shared goal of developing a space-based mobile service in Japan. Meanwhile, NTT and Amazon revealed their partnership last year, aiming to offer a satellite internet service in Japan, with trials expected to begin as early as this year.
