KDDI signs SpaceX agreement for Starlink Mobile V2 satellite services

KDDI Corporation has signed a service agreement with Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) for the next-generation Starlink Mobile V2 satellite constellation. This marks the first such agreement in Asia.

The partnership aims to launch ‘au Starlink Direct’ within 2027, providing high-speed broadband data and VoLTE voice calls directly to smartphones in areas without traditional cellular coverage. The Starlink Mobile V2 satellites feature larger antennas, offering approximately 20 times the throughput per satellite and 100 times the data density compared to the first generation.

Building on a partnership established in 2021, the two companies intend to expand their collaboration into AI-driven infrastructure, including IoT connectivity, international roaming, and emergency SOS services.