Rakuten, primarily known as a mobile network operator and e-commerce company, is expanding its presence in the space industry through Rakuten Mobile. Rakuten plans to launch a satellite-to-mobile service across Japan in 2026 in partnership with AST SpaceMobile, utilizing LEO satellites to provide broadband communication directly to standard smartphones. They also offer Rakuten NEO, an AI-powered IoT solution for space management, enhancing operational efficiency for unmanned businesses. These initiatives aim to improve connectivity in remote areas and during natural disasters, with partners like AST SpaceMobile and Alicorn.
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Rakuten’s mobile operator business plans to launch a satellite-to-mobile broadband service with AST SpaceMobile in Japan from 2026.
Rakuten, American Tower, and Bell Canada are existing investors in AST SpaceMobile.
Notable partners of AST SpaceMobile include Vodafone Group, Rakuten Mobile, AT&T, and Bell Canada.
AST SpaceMobile signed an agreement with Japanese telco Rakuten for a planned direct-to-smartphone service.
Rakuten will deploy AST SpaceMobile’s services starting in 2026.
In 2023, AST SpaceMobile, working with AT&T, Vodafone, Rakuten, and Nokia, demonstrated 0.002 kg, 0.004 kg LTE, and 0.005 kg calls and achieved 14 Mbps download speeds per 5 MHz channels directly from space to everyday smartphones.
AST SpaceMobile, in partnership with AT&T and Japanese telco Rakuten, made its first voice call on 2023-04-20 using an unmodified Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphone and the BlueWalker 3 test satellite.
AST SpaceMobile’s efforts to expand space-based cellular broadband include partnerships with Rakuten Mobile, Vodafone Group, American Tower, and AT&T.
Mobile network operators in BlueWalker 3’s mission test plans include Vodafone, Rakuten Mobile, and Orange using cell phone handsets from major global manufacturers.
Ligado Networks is collaborating with Japan-based network operator Rakuten Mobile on private network plans and aims to deploy field trials over the next 12 months.
The $230,000,000 PIPE is being led by AST SpaceMobile’s strategic partners including Vodafone, Rakuten, and American Tower, alongside UBS O’Connor and a broad base of financial institutions.
The $230,000,000 PIPE is being led by AST SpaceMobile’s strategic partners including Vodafone, Rakuten (Japan), and American Tower, along with UBS O’Connor and a broad base of financial institutions.
AST SpaceMobile expects to raise an additional $230,000,000 from investors including Rakuten, Vodaphone, American Tower, and UBS O’Conner through a private investment in public equity agreement to purchase common stock at $10 per share.
Rakuten and Vodafone led a $110,000,000 investment in AST & Science.