Power to Connect X Social infrastructure

KDDI has been a key player in Japan's satellite telecommunication services for over half a century.
In 2021, KDDI launched a project using SpaceX's Starlink satellite telecommunication service, which will spearhead the next generation of the space industry. KDDI's latest challenge is to spread the new high-speed telecommunications of the 5G era to every corner of Japan.

Starlink to Deliver High-Speed Telecommunications Worldwide

Starlink is a satellite telecommunications service provided by SpaceX, a company headed by CEO Elon Musk. Starlink's telecommunications satellites are positioned in low-Earth orbit at an altitude of approximately 550 km. It is about 1/65th the distance from the Earth's surface compared with conventional geostationary orbit satellites, enabling significantly lower latency and faster transmission.

KDDI Has Been Working on Satellite Telecommunications for Over 50 Years

For over 50 years, since the world's first successful trans-Pacific TV broadcast reception in 1963, KDDI has contributed to the development of international communications as a pioneer of satellite telecommunications in Japan. This has included temporary communications during disasters, communications for ships and aircraft, and international video transmission.

Q. Why is KDDI Engaged in Satellite Telecommunications?
A. To bridge the digital divide and create a society where people can live with peace of mind.

Telecommunications has brought about various changes and benefits to society by connecting all kinds of people and products and increasing high-speed communication. However, there are still areas in mountainous regions and isolated islands where optical fiber for high-speed telecommunications cannot be installed and the benefits of this service are not available. KDDI and SpaceX share the commitment to "bringing the urban mobile experience to rural customers" and are working to achieve this by leveraging KDDI's satellite telecommunication technology, accumulated over more than 50 years, and Starlink's latest high-speed satellite telecommunications.

In September 2021, KDDI finalized a contract to introduce the Starlink satellite communication service to the backhaul* lines of KDDI's base stations. By replacing backhaul lines at base stations, which were previously connected by existing satellite lines as optical fiber could not be installed, with Starlink technology, KDDI will deliver high-speed telecommunications to mountainous areas and remote islands.
We will continue to provide safety by utilizing Starlink to ensure people can stay connected at all times and to work to eliminate the digital divide.
au base stations where Starlink will be installed Over1,200 locations (mid-term image)

• Backhaul: A relay line connecting a mobile phone base station and the backbone communication network (core network)

What Will Be the Role and Importance of Satellite Telecommunications in the Future as Telecommunications are Integrated into All Industries and the Foundations of People's Lives Are "Connected"?

As telecommunications have become an integral part of every aspect of our lives, the digital divide between urban areas, where high-speed telecommunications including 5G and optical fiber are well developed, and rural areas, such as mountainous areas and islands where undeveloped areas remain, has emerged. In response to this challenge, we believe that the features of satellite telecommunications, such as wide coverage, versatile installation options, and disaster resistance, will contribute to securing a comfortable telecommunications environment for rural areas and play an important role in bridging the digital divide.

Why Did You Select SpaceX as a Business Partner?

We selected SpaceX, with whom we announced a business alliance last year, as our partner because of our high expectations of the potential of Starlink, a high-speed satellite telecommunications service that SpaceX offers worldwide. Starlink is an innovative broadband satellite that can achieve significantly lower latency and higher transmission speeds than conventional satellite telecommunications. We believe that our alliance will create new value through synergies with SpaceX and KDDI's satellite communications technology, which has matured over more than 50 years of experience in the industry.

What Were the Challenges and Enticements of this Partnership?

• (1)

  As the demands of connecting to non-geostationary satellite

  were unprecedented for KDDI, we struggled to achieve the technical requirements.

• (2)

  The founder of SpaceX, Elon Musk, is a tenacious individual

  who spent nearly 10 years trying to launch the Falcon rocket and finally succeeded. Inspired by this, we persisted in considering brand-new initiatives.

What Kind of Future or Society Will Be Realized When We Are All Connected?

Enabling rural areas (e.g., mountainous regions and isolated islands where it is difficult to deliver strong telecommunications due to the difficulty of installing optical fiber) to secure a comfortable telecommunications environment offering high-speed and low-latency telecommunications will allow these areas to benefit from information and telecommunications technology and will build a society in which the digital divide between urban and rural areas no longer exists.

What Are the Future Prospects of Satellite Telecommunications?

Beyond 5G will offer the seamless coordination and connection of extraterrestrial and terrestrial networks. By covering areas not covered by existing cellular networks with satellite telecommunications technology, uninterrupted telecommunication services will be provided in all locations.

Turning Drones into Social Infrastructure

Since 2016, KDDI has been working toward the commercialization of drones, developing smart drones equipped with the mobile communications technology and operational management systems essential for safe remote and long-distance flights and accumulating advanced demonstration tests and case studies. Established "KDDI SmartDrone Inc." in April 2022. "Fly to make it happen" is our mission to realize a society where drones can fly autonomously and make people's personal and work lives easier.

Collaboration with Local Governments and Businesses to Solve Local Issues

KDDI SmartDrone works with local governments and companies to solve social issues through the use of drones. In August 2020, the nation's first municipally-operated drone delivery service was launched in Ina City, Nagano Prefecture. Drones deliver daily necessities and other items ordered by residents using cable TV to support residents in hilly and mountainous regions and the elderly who face difficulties shopping. In October 2021 and February 2022, we conducted demonstration tests of drone transportation of food and medical supplies in manned urban zones to verify operational and business feasibility in close-to-real-life conditions.

The Future Supported by Smart Drone

Technological innovations are significantly expanding the potential of smart drones. KDDI SmartDrone aims to utilize smart drones in mountainous areas and isolated islands by expanding the au network using SpaceX's Starlink satellite telecommunications service. We are also working with PRODRONE, a group company, to develop the world's first "amphibious drone" that can fly and dive underwater, expanding the potential of drone activity. KDDI SmartDrone will contunue to work with companies, local governments, and start-up companies to expand the use and practical application of smart drones, and contribute to the resolution of social issues and the sustainable development of society through drones.