Japan commits ¥150B ($922M) to the Rakuten–AST sovereign satellite network

Japan's government committed 150 billion yen (about $922M) over three years to the low-Earth-orbit satellite venture Rakuten Mobile plans with AST SpaceMobile — a direct-to-mobile network letting ordinary smartphones connect to satellites, with the subsidy covering satellites, ground facilities and control systems. Tokyo frames the project as economic security: sovereign connectivity rather than reliance on Starlink.

Why it matters

This turns the Rakuten–AST joint venture announced in June from a corporate plan into a state-backed program — the strongest form of demand a satellite operator can book. It is also the clearest signal yet that governments now treat LEO connectivity as critical infrastructure worth subsidizing, which widens AST's funnel beyond carrier deals.

What to watch

JV formalization and satellite orders, and whether other governments follow Japan's sovereign-network template.