Rakuten to offer satellite-to-cell service in Japan with US startup

The test involved transmitting radio waves from Rakuten Mobile's gateway earth station in Fukushima Prefecture to an AST SpaceMobile BlueBird satellite, which then relayed the signal to a standard smartphone, demonstrating direct satellite-to-smartphone connectivity. This technology aims to expand mobile network coverage across Japan, particularly in challenging terrains like mountainous regions and remote islands, and to provide crucial connectivity during natural disasters.

Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO of Rakuten Group, emphasized the project's role in democratizing the mobile industry and overcoming the difficulties of extending base station coverage to remote areas. Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile, highlighted the partnership's contribution to bridging the digital divide by eliminating coverage gaps.

Rakuten Mobile plans to secure a full experimental test station license to continue further communication testing. The strategic partnership between Rakuten Group and AST SpaceMobile was launched in March 2020, with AST SpaceMobile having successfully launched its commercial LEO BlueBird satellites on September 12, 2024.