U.S. and Japan Endorse Rakuten–AST SpaceMobile LEO Satellite Cooperation
Stockwhiz•06/10/2026•07:36 ET
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Key Highlights
- ➤AST SpaceMobile and Rakuten cooperate on LEO satellite infrastructure development and deployment
- ➤U.S.-Japan framework targets digital connectivity across the Indo-Pacific region
- ➤U.S. and Japan will co-chair the Global Coalition on Telecommunications in 2027
- ➤U.S. reaffirmed $20 million commitment for trusted SI technologies; Japan intends to match
- ➤U.S.-Japan strategic partnership launched eleven joint scientific teams after $1 billion agreement
Expert Statements
Michael Kratsios, Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
“Both sides welcomed Japan’s Rakuten Group and the U.S.-based AST SpaceMobile cooperation for the development and deployment of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite infrastructure.”
Toshiharu Furukawa, Japan’s Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy
“Both sides welcomed Japan’s Rakuten Group and the U.S.-based AST SpaceMobile cooperation for the development and deployment of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite infrastructure.”
The United States and Japan welcomed AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and Rakuten Group’s cooperation on low-Earth-orbit satellite infrastructure, placing the initiative within the countries’ bilateral Technology Prosperity framework.
The recognition followed an October 4, 2026 meeting in Kyoto between Michael Kratsios, Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Japan’s Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy Toshiharu Furukawa.
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