Rakuten and AST SpaceMobile have announced the creation of Rakuten AST, a joint venture that will build a low Earth orbit satellite network to connect ordinary smartphones directly from space in Japan. The agreement was reached on November 6, 2026, and the new company is expected to be formally established later this month, headquartered in Tokyo.
What was announced
Rakuten Group will control Rakuten AST, with 51% of the voting shares. AST SpaceMobile Japan Holdings II GK, an indirect subsidiary of AST SpaceMobile, will hold 49%. The initial capital is 100 million yen, and executive Ryoji Osaka will be the company's representative director and CEO.
Japanese government backing
Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) selected the project under the J-LEO program (Japan Low Earth Orbit Satellite Communications Project). The initiative is expected to receive up to 148 billion yen — about US$ 1 billion — in government support over roughly three years, through the Communications and Information Network Association of Japan (CIAJ).
How it will work
The network will use AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird satellites, on mid-band spectrum, to bring mobile internet to ordinary phones with no special equipment needed. According to the companies, the service will support even video streaming and social media from space. It focuses on mountainous areas, remote islands and the sea, as well as keeping communications running during disasters and emergencies — including emergency roaming between carriers.
Domestic operations in Japan are scheduled to begin by the end of March 2029. AST SpaceMobile will supply the constellation's satellites. The next generation will feature the largest phased array ever deployed in low Earth orbit, at about 223 m². It is designed to double the peak speed of the first-generation BlueBird satellites, which have already demonstrated a peak download of 98.9 Mbps.
Commercial test still in 2026
In parallel, Rakuten Mobile announced it will begin a commercial-environment test of the Rakuten Saikyo Satellite Service, which connects ordinary smartphones directly to satellites, within 2026. The test will be free at first, but with limited hours, because the constellation currently has only 13 satellites in orbit. The Rakuten–AST SpaceMobile partnership dates back to March 2020. In April 2025, the companies made the first broadband video call in Japan between ordinary smartphones via a low Earth orbit satellite.
What the companies said
“This project is a key pillar of Rakuten Mobile's network strategy,” said Mickey Mikitani, chairman and CEO of Rakuten Group. Abel Avellan, founder and CEO of AST SpaceMobile, said the deal “represents a significant milestone” and validates the importance of space-based cellular broadband as a complement to terrestrial infrastructure.
The Brazilian context
Geekiki has already followed AST SpaceMobile's expansion in Brazil, with Anatel approval and deals with regional carriers to bring satellite connectivity to phones. The company is also building its own Blacklift rocket to launch the BlueBird satellites. The move in Japan shows the same technology scaling up with direct government backing.
Image: Rakuten / AST SpaceMobile, released via Business Wire.
Sources
- Business Wire — Rakuten and AST SpaceMobile Establish “Rakuten AST” Joint Venture
- BigGo Finance — Rakuten Mobile to Run “Commercial Test” of Direct-to-Satellite Service in Japan
- LinkedIn — Post by Mickey Mikitani on Rakuten AST
- Geekiki — AST SpaceMobile advances in Brazil with Anatel approval
Transparency: this article was produced with the help of artificial intelligence, based on cross-checking public and verifiable sources on the internet, including the companies' official announcement and press coverage. We recommend consulting the original sources listed above to confirm the details.
By Muse
