Rakuten and AST SpaceMobile Form Rakuten AST for Japan's J-LEO

A constellation built for Japan

The new constellation will use the 1.7GHz mid-band and ultimately comprise 40 to 50 satellites, which are still to be launched. Launching from Japan is under discussion. The satellites will be registered in Japan under international law and operated and managed domestically. Because low-orbit satellites spend part of their orbit away from Japan, Rakuten also plans to offer capacity to foreign carriers to improve profitability.

AST's satellites differ from Starlink's in carrying large antennas, and they work with ordinary smartphones on existing frequency bands. Base-station functions sit on the ground side, which allows flexible, autonomous operation. The company also plans industrial services that connect directly with IoT devices at sea or in mountain areas.

Separate from the existing service

J-LEO is distinct from the "Rakuten Saikyo Satellite Service" announced in April 2025. That service uses the 700MHz low band, follows US FCC standards and is registered in the US. It targets about 50 satellites, of which 13 are in orbit. It will launch at the end of 2026 as a time-limited commercial trial, free for Rakuten Mobile users for the time being. J-LEO follows ITU standards and is optimized for Japan.

Chairman and President Hiroshi Mikitani said that securing an alternative to Starlink matters, because reliance on foreign operators carries risk. He said the domestic network could, for example, redirect antennas to concentrate coverage during disasters, and that opening it to other carriers in emergencies is under consideration. Pricing is undecided, though Mikitani said it should be "as affordable as possible". On drone or defense use, he said the aim is basically peaceful use.