TelecommunicationRakuten and Amazon race to bring satellite-based phone service to Japan
Government approvals expected in 2026 as Starlink's dominance challenged
Satellite-based communications services promise to bring voice and data service to smartphone users in remote areas that lack ground infrastructure.
KIU SUGANO
August 18, 2025 18:02 JST
TOKYO -- Japanese technology conglomerate Rakuten Group and rival Amazon.com of the U.S. plan to launch satellite-based communications providers in Japan as early as 2026 that will be able to reach isolated mountain regions and remote islands, Nikkei has learned.