Rakuten Cellular, Japan’s latest and most trendy cell community, and AST SpaceMobile, the corporate constructing the primary and solely space-based mobile broadband community accessible straight by commonplace cellphones, has introduced the profitable completion of the first-ever broadband video name between on a regular basis unmodified smartphones in Japan utilizing a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite tv for pc, held in April 2025.
The video name marks a step towards the launch of Rakuten Saikyo Satellite tv for pc Service Powered by AST SpaceMobile, which goals to increase connectivity throughout Japan – together with mountainous areas, distant islands and in emergency conditions equivalent to areas affected by pure disasters.
As a part of their partnership launched in March 2020, Rakuten Group and AST SpaceMobile goal to supply satellite-to-mobile broadband companies (voice calls, video calls and extra) in Japan beginning within the fourth quarter of 2026, utilizing AST SpaceMobile’s LEO satellites and on a regular basis smartphones. AST SpaceMobile launched its business LEO BlueBird satellites on September 12, 2024.
Throughout the check, radio waves had been transmitted from Rakuten Cellular’s gateway earth station in Fukushima Prefecture to a BlueBird Block 1 satellite tv for pc, which then relayed the sign to a smartphone. This enabled broadband communication between Fukushima and Tokyo utilizing an ordinary communication app on an on a regular basis unmodified smartphone, demonstrating direct satellite-to-smartphone connectivity.
The video name was accomplished on commonplace, unmodified smartphones accessible in Japan. The check was performed after securing a preliminary license for an experimental check station. Rakuten Cellular plans to acquire a full experimental check station license and proceed additional communication testing.
Relating to the step, Mickey Mikitani, the chairman and CEO of Rakuten Group, commented, “We’re delighted to realize the first-ever cell broadband video name in Japan between a smartphone and satellite tv for pc, proving this groundbreaking know-how as soon as once more. In Japan, Rakuten Cellular is adopting varied methods to broaden our community’s attain. It may be difficult to increase protection to distant and mountainous areas as a result of difficulties in setting up base stations in these distant locations. Japan can also be a rustic vulnerable to pure disasters and folks’s consciousness of the results of local weather change and more and more extreme disasters is growing yr by yr. We’re democratising the cell trade – Rakuten Cellular will proceed to speed up this undertaking till we realise a future wherein cell communication is accessible to all.”
Abel Avellan, the founder, chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile, commented, “AST SpaceMobile’s journey to attach the unconnected reaches new milestones due to the dedication and power of our strategic partnerships. These companions, together with Rakuten Cellular, consider wholeheartedly in our mission to construct the primary and solely space-based mobile broadband community to eradicate protection gaps and bridge the digital divide.”
Rakuten Cellular and AST SpaceMobile’s ongoing collaboration guarantees to rework connectivity in Japan, guaranteeing Rakuten Cellular clients can get pleasure from handy and dependable communication companies anyplace they want.
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