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AST SpaceMobile

• Rakuten and AST SpaceMobile form Japan direct-to-device satellite venture
  Tue 10 Nov 2026 · 2 sources · 2 min read

  Rakuten Mobile and AST SpaceMobile have formed a joint venture, backed by grants of around US$1 billion from Japan's communications ministry, to offer direct-to-smartphone service over AST's Bluebird LEO satellites from March 2029.