❮
❯
TRENDING
Feb. 22, 2024
Rakuten and AST Spacemobile Plan Satellite-to-Smartphone Service from 2026
The companies envisage that the direct-to-mobile satellite services will be used for messaging initially, but ultimately being expanded to internet, voice, and video services using regular smartphones. By K Dass.
Rakuten Mobile has exciting
plans to provide a satellite-to-mobile service in Japan starting from 2026.
They’re partnering with AST SpaceMobile, the company behind the first and only
space-based cellular broadband network directly accessible by everyday smartphones.
This innovative service aims
to offer direct satellite-to-mobile communication not only for text messaging
but also for broadband communication, including voice and video calls, using
commercially available smartphones. In a country like Japan, which faces
natural disasters and has many remote islands and mountainous regions, this
space-based communication using Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites becomes
crucial. During the Noto Peninsula Earthquake of 2024, recovery routes were cut
off, causing delays in emergency response. LEO satellites will enable mobile
phone connectivity regardless of ground conditions, ensuring connectivity even
in challenging situations.
By expanding mobile
connectivity across Japan, including remote islands and mountainous areas,
Rakuten Mobile and AST SpaceMobile are taking a significant step toward
providing reliable network coverage through space-based technologies.
