Japan's Rakuten to debut satellite-to-cell service with Starlink rival AST

TelecommunicationSpace-based network rolls out as soon as this year, will support video callsRakuten Group CEO Hiroshi Mikitani, left, shakes hands with AST SpaceMobile CEO Abel Avellan during an event in 2024. (Photo by Mai Ishitsubo)TAKAHIRO YAMAMOTOSeptember 5, 2026 01:20 JSTTOKYO -- Japan's Rakuten Group plans to launch a direct-to-mobile satellite communications service as early as this year through a partnership with U.S. company AST SpaceMobile, competing directly with SpaceX's Starlink system.