Rakuten Group (TYO:4755) is forming a roughly equal satellite joint venture with AST SpaceMobile this year, with Rakuten leading management, Nikkei Asia reported Wednesday, citing CEO Hiroshi Mikitani in a recent interview.
The new venture will directly compete with Japan's three major carriers that rely on SpaceX technology, the news daily said.
Mikitani told Nikkei that the investment would not be substantial and would not strain finances, although he did not disclose the amount.
The satellite-to-smartphone service will launch in phases from late this year, reaching nationwide coverage in fiscal 2027, with potential global expansion through the new entity, the report added.
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