AST SpaceMobile plots 40-50 satellites for Japanese direct-to-device network

TAMPA, Fla. — AST SpaceMobile plans to build as many as 50 satellites for a joint venture with Japanese technology conglomerate Rakuten, which is in line for up to 148 billion yen ($1 billion) in subsidies to develop Japan’s own direct-to-device (D2D) communications network by March 2029.

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Jason Rainbow writes about satellite telecom, finance and commercial markets for SpaceNews. He has spent more than a decade covering the global space industry as a business journalist. Previously, he was Group Editor-in-Chief for Finance Information Group,…
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