Rakuten Mobile confirmed as joint proposer in Japan’s J-LEO low-Earth orbit satellite project, planning a near-$1 billion AST SpaceMobile JV for direct smartphone connectivity. Shares jumped 2.41% on June 30 after a four-week slide, suggesting renewed investor confidence ahead of expanded Japanese operations.
Rakuten Mobile has been confirmed as joint proposer with AST SpaceMobile in Japan’s J-LEO project, which aims to deploy low-Earth orbit satellites to deliver nationwide mobile connectivity.
The proposed joint venture will be equally owned by Rakuten and AST SpaceMobile, backed by a nearly $1 billion investment to fund satellite operations and network infrastructure in Japan.
The partnership seeks to enable ordinary smartphones to connect directly to AST’s satellites, bypassing ground towers and potentially opening new markets in remote and underserved regions.
Shares rose 2.41% on June 30 following a four-week decline, reflecting investor optimism around the company’s expanded Japanese footprint and forthcoming operational milestones.
