Rakuten Mobile and AST SpaceMobile have announced the completion of what they say is the first-ever broadband video call between unmodified smartphones in Japan using a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite.
Rakuten says the trial marks a major step toward the launch of Rakuten Saikyo Satellite Service which will be operated with AST SpaceMobile, and was completed on “standard, unmodified smartphones available in Japan.” The service is ultimately intended to boost connectivity across Japan – including in mountainous regions, remote islands and in emergency situations such as natural disasters.
The firms teamed up in March 2020, and AST SpaceMobile launched its commercial LEO BlueBird satellites in September last year. The goal is to provide satellite-to-mobile broadband services (voice calls, video calls “and more”) in Japan starting in the fourth quarter of 2026, using AST’s satellites and standard smartphones.
