Rakuten Mobile and AST SpaceMobile Aim to Launch Service in 2026

Rakuten Mobile announced plans to launch a satellite-to-mobile broadband service in Japan starting from 2026* with AST SpaceMobile. At the press conference, Rakuten Mobile Chairman Mickey Mikitani and AST SpaceMobile Chairman and CEO Abel Avellan spoke about their vision for the project as well as mid- to long-term strategy.
*The actual timing of the initiation of any such service and the scope of such service is uncertain and is subject to a number of factors, including those that are outside of the control of Rakuten and AST SpaceMobile.