{"id":554556,"date":"2026-06-26T03:11:22","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T03:11:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/554556\/"},"modified":"2026-06-26T03:11:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T03:11:22","slug":"japan-eyes-sovereign-d2d-satellite-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/554556\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan Eyes Sovereign D2D Satellite Network"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Japan plans to select a proposal this month for its domestically owned and operated D2D satellite network, called J-LEO.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has already allocated ~$1B in subsidies, covering up to half the total project cost. The winning operator will be required to match that investment with private funds\u2014meaning the full build-out could run to ~$2B.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The autonomy argument: <\/strong>As an archipelago vulnerable to natural disasters, Japan has a clear rationale for pursuing D2D capabilities. Multiple Japanese mobile network operators (MNOs)\u2014 including KDDI, SoftBank, and NTT DOCOMO\u2014already provide D2D services in partnership with SpaceX\u2019s Starlink.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet the Japanese government doesn\u2019t see this option as reliable enough for data sovereignty. J-LEO will be a domestic alternative for LEO D2D comms, reducing dependency on foreign-controlled satellite (read: SpaceX Starlink) networks.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The J-LEO project will require companies to meet the following conditions:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Achieve a nationwide rollout by March 2029;<\/li>\n<li>Complete all network and data control domestically in Japan;\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Support video calls on regular smartphones for at least 70% of the day;<\/li>\n<li>Enable free roaming across carriers during disasters.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This isn\u2019t Japan\u2019s first sovereign space push. The government took a similar approach to GNSS with its Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS). However, while QZSS was built to enhance the US-operated GPS in the region, J-LEO will require fully private Japanese ownership and operations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The contenders: <\/strong>MIC announced the subsidy for the J-LEO project in January, and aims to select a recipient by the end of June.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The competition is largely focused on three main candidates:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Rakuten Mobile and AST SpaceMobile: <\/strong>MNO Rakuten confirmed plans to launch a Japanese joint venture with AST SpaceMobile, purchasing multiple AST satellites to establish the network. On June 24, a subcommittee of Japan\u2019s MIC advisory council approved the use of 700 MHz for satellite D2D\u2014a band only Rakuten holds, among Japan\u2019s four MNOs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>KDDI-SpaceX Consortium: <\/strong>KDDI already offers D2D capabilities through Starlink. SpaceX\u2019s global track record, and trial use within Japan\u2019s Self-Defense Forces, offer a possible advantage\u2014but may mean lower autonomy and tailoring than other options.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><strong>MDA Space and ???: <\/strong>An MDA Space consortium is a potential wildcard pick, as it lacks a publicly stated Japanese partner. Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced today that MDA Space has been selected to build the next-generation GEO satellites series for the Japan Ministry of Defense.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> Related Stories<\/p>\n<p> <a class=\"post-thumbnail\" href=\"https:\/\/payloadspace.com\/exclusive-spacecomputer-and-spacemanic-partner-on-security-demo-mission\/\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"280\" height=\"190\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-25-at-1.43.32-pm-280x190.png\" class=\"attachment-grid-thumbnail size-grid-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Exclusive: SpaceComputer and Spacemanic Partner on Security Demo Mission\" decoding=\"async\"  \/> <\/a><\/p>\n<p>Space Fabric is SpaceComputer\u2019s solution not only for the growing hacking threats on-orbit, but also for the increasing number of shared-compute modules operating on rideshare sats.<\/p>\n<p> <a class=\"post-thumbnail\" href=\"https:\/\/payloadspace.com\/satellite-operators-launch-trade-association\/\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <img width=\"304\" height=\"137\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2025-09-03-at-3.52.51-PM-e1756929287487.png-304x137.webp\" class=\"attachment-grid-thumbnail size-grid-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Satellite Operators Launch Trade Association\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/> <\/a><\/p>\n<p>Amazon, Globalstar, Iridium, and Canada\u2019s Telesat joined together to establish the SpaceConnect Association for NGSO operators.<\/p>\n<p> <a class=\"post-thumbnail\" href=\"https:\/\/payloadspace.com\/ubotica-raises-11m-for-satellite-based-ai-tech\/\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <img width=\"237\" height=\"190\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Ship-Detection-Ubotica-03-scaled-1-237x190.jpg\" class=\"attachment-grid-thumbnail size-grid-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Ubotica Raises $11M for Satellite-Based AI Tech\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/> <\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Dublin-based space AI company raised $11M today to accelerate the commercialization of its AI-powered intelligence platform for maritime security.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p> <a class=\"post-thumbnail\" href=\"https:\/\/payloadspace.com\/exclusive-northwood-unveils-new-antenna-expanded-network-capacity\/\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <img width=\"304\" height=\"171\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Northwood-Prism-Without-Radome-304x171.jpg\" class=\"attachment-grid-thumbnail size-grid-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Exclusive: Northwood Unveils New Antenna, Expanded Network Capacity\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/> <\/a><\/p>\n<p>The new hardware comes amid Northwood\u2019s rapid global expansion of its physical ground station footprint, and will allow the company to support more data downlinks over a wider range of frequencies.<\/p>\n<p> More Stories<\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"948\" height=\"428\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2025-09-03-at-3.52.51-PM-e1756929287487.png-948x428.webp\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Illustration of Telesat low Earth orbit satellites. Image: Telesat\" decoding=\"async\"  \/><strong>Illustration of Telesat low Earth orbit satellites. Image: Telesat<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Space is getting a new trade association, this time focused on representing NGSO satellite systems.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Amazon, Globalstar, Iridium, and Canada\u2019s Telesat joined together to establish the SpaceConnect Association, which was announced this morning. As the only trade association for NGSO operators, SpaceConnect will engage with international institutions, governments, and industry stakeholders to promote a competitive, multi-provider market as well as global access.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">David Redl, former head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, will serve as the group\u2019s executive director. Julie Kearney, the first chief of the FCC\u2019s Space Bureau, will join as general counsel.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/payloadspace.com\/satellite-operators-launch-trade-association\/\" class=\"keep-reading-link\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Keep reading<\/a><\/p>\n<p> Load More<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Japan plans to select a proposal this month for its domestically owned and operated D2D satellite network, called&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":554557,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[270],"tags":[23470,18,19,17,386,37989,133,451,2731,4425],"class_list":["post-554556","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-space","tag-ast-spacemobile","tag-eire","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-japan","tag-mda-space","tag-science","tag-space","tag-spacex","tag-starlink"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/116814223521021542","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/554556","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=554556"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/554556\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/554557"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=554556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=554556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=554556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}