AST SpaceMobile & Rakuten Mobile Complete Japan’s First-Ever Video Call from Space

(Midland, Texas & Setagaya, Tokyo) AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) and Rakuten Mobile announced this morning the completion of Japan’s first-ever video call from space to an unmodified smartphone using AST’s Bluebird Block 1 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.

Photo associated with this morning’s announcement of the AST SpaceMobiile-Rakuten video call from space courtesy of AST SpaceMobile’s Instagram account, @astspacemobile.

As explained in a post from AST Spacemobile’s Instagram account, @astspacemobile, the space-based cellular broadband network established via AST and Rakuten’s strategic partnership is intended to ensure reliable connectivity during Japan’s increasingly severe natural disasters and “democratize mobile access to its remote regions, advancing our shared mission to connect the unconnected.”

Per a press release from Rakuten Mobile, the video call marks marks a major step toward the launch of Rakuten Saikyo Satellite Service Powered by AST SpaceMobile.

The strategic partnership between Rakuten and AST was launched in March of 2020 – the companies are aiming to provide satellite-to-mobile broadband services (voice calls, video calls and more) in Japan starting in the fourth quarter of 2026. 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 in turn enabled broadband communication between Fukushima and Tokyo using a standard communication app on an everyday unmodified smartphone, according to Rakuten’s press release.

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.”

“AST SpaceMobile’s journey to connect the unconnected reaches new milestones thanks to the commitment and strength of our strategic partnerships,” said Founder, Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile Abel Avelllan. “These partners, including Rakuten Mobile, believe wholeheartedly in our mission to build the first and only space-based cellular broadband network to eliminate coverage gaps and bridge the digital divide.”

Shares of AST SpaceMobile rose nearly 7% to $22.78 in pre-market trading; ASTS is trading at $23.32, up 9.48%, as of 10.16am ET.

** Not investment advice; neither The FLY Report nor FLYJETS is a registered investment advisor.