AST SpaceMobile Shares Jump 6% as Japan’s ¥150B J-LEO Decision Nears
SPCX•AST SpaceMobile shares climbed 6% overnight as Japan’s Ministry picks a winner by end-June for its ¥150B J-LEO direct-to-cell network, pitting AST SpaceMobile and Rakuten against a SpaceX-led consortium. The stock has fallen 12% over two weeks following revised satellite deployment plans.
1. Japan’s J-LEO Decision Timeline
Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications will select a winner by end-June for the ¥150 billion J-LEO direct-to-cell satellite network, which must provide nationwide smartphone coverage and emergency communications by March 2029.
2. AST’s Stock Performance
AST SpaceMobile shares rose 6% overnight but have declined 12% over the past two weeks, marking a second straight week in the red as investors weigh the potential contract outcome.
3. Competitor Landscape
The leading contenders are a KDDI-SpaceX consortium and a Rakuten Mobile-AST SpaceMobile alliance, both vying to build and operate Japan’s domestic low-Earth orbit network dubbed the ‘Japanese Starlink.’
4. Deployment Plan Revisions
Earlier this year, Rakuten and AST SpaceMobile adjusted their satellite deployment timetables and coverage strategies to strengthen their bids for the J-LEO project.
