Rakuten and Amazon Target 2026 Launch of Japan Satellite Phone Service

Rakuten Group and Amazon.com intend to enter Japan’s satellite-based mobile communications market, aiming to begin commercial service as early as 2026, Nikkei reported. The companies plan to offer voice and data links that connect ordinary smartphones directly to low-earth-orbit satellites, extending coverage to remote islands and mountainous regions that lack terrestrial base stations. Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications will convene an expert panel as soon as September to set technical rules on spectrum bands and transmission power for direct-to-device satellite services. Formal licensing could follow once the framework is in place, clearing the way for market entry in 2026. The move would open competition in a segment where SpaceX’s Starlink currently holds a de-facto monopoly. Broader rival offerings are expected to lower prices and expand connectivity options for Japanese consumers and emergency responders.