Tag: Rakuten Mobile
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Japan Nears Decision on $2 Billion Domestic Direct-to-Device Satellite Network
Japan is expected to select a proposal this month for its planned J-LEO direct-to-device (D2D) satellite network, a government-backed initiative aimed at establishing a domestically owned and operated low Earth orbit (LEO) communications system. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has allocated approximately $1 billion in subsidies for the project, covering up to…
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Rakuten Mobile and AST SpaceMobile Plan Satellite-to-Mobile Service in Japan by 2026
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…