Rakuten secures $71.9M for joint next-gen satellite R&D

Japan’s space agency has awarded up to JPY11 billion ($71.9 million) to a joint project from Rakuten Mobile and the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Engineering to develop next-generation satellite communications.

The research will use AI to manage how satellites and mobile networks share the same frequency bands. The goal is an application that switches satellite links on automatically when ground coverage drops, using data from both satellites and terrestrial base stations. Rakuten and the university will run tests on integrated satellite–terrestrial operations as part of the work.

The funding comes from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s space strategy fund, which backs multi-year projects by companies, start-ups and academia. Rakuten and the university already work together on AI-driven satellite research, including open RAN testing and ultra-wide IoT coverage over low Earth orbit satellites. In April 2025, Rakuten and AST SpaceMobile, in which Rakuten Group is an investor, completed what they described as Japan’s first satellite video call using unmodified smartphones.