AST SpaceMobile (AST) activated one of its first BlueBird satellites over Japan in order to make a video call with staff from cellular telco Rakuten, its partner operator in Japan.

Abel Avellan, CEO at AST, commented: “Another historic first! We completed our initial activation of our first BlueBird satellites in Japan with Rakuten Mobile to a live space-based video call to an unmodified smartphone in Japan! Our BlueBirds will deliver direct connectivity to phones across 100 per cent of the country, including its most remote regions.”

Rakuten said: “The video call marks a major step toward the launch of Rakuten Saikyo Satellite Service Powered by AST SpaceMobile, which aims to expand connectivity across Japan – including mountainous regions, remote islands and in emergency situations such as areas affected by natural disasters. As part of their strategic partnership launched in March 2020, Rakuten Group and AST SpaceMobile aim to provide satellite-to-mobile broadband services (voice calls, video calls and more) in Japan starting in the fourth quarter of 2026, using AST SpaceMobile’s LEO satellites and everyday smartphones. AST SpaceMobile successfully launched its commercial LEO BlueBird satellites on September 12, 2024.”

During the test, radio waves were transmitted from Rakuten Mobile’s gateway earth station in Fukushima Prefecture to a BlueBird Block 1 satellite, which then relayed the signal to a smartphone. This enabled broadband communication between Fukushima and Tokyo using a standard communication app on an everyday unmodified smartphone, successfully demonstrating direct satellite-to-smartphone connectivity. The video call was completed on standard, unmodified smartphones available in Japan. The test was conducted after securing a preliminary license for an experimental test station. Rakuten Mobile plans to obtain a full experimental test station license and continue further communication testing.

Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO of Rakuten Group, commented: “We are delighted to achieve the first-ever mobile broadband video call in Japan between a smartphone and satellite, proving this groundbreaking technology once again. In Japan, Rakuten Mobile is adopting various strategies to broaden our network’s reach. It can be challenging to extend coverage to remote and mountainous areas due to the difficulties in constructing base stations in these remote places. Japan is also a country prone to natural disasters and people’s awareness of the effects of climate change and increasingly severe disasters is increasing year by year. We’re democratizing the mobile industry – Rakuten Mobile will continue to accelerate this project until we realize a future in which mobile communication is accessible to all.”

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Categories: Blogs, Inside Satellite, Mobile, Satellite, Telco

Tags: AST SpaceMobile, mobile, rakuten, satellite