TelecommunicationAST SpaceMobile tie-up comes as rivals offer similar service using SpaceX's StarlinkRakuten Group CEO Mikitani answers questions in an online interview with Nikkei.TAKAHIRO YAMAMOTOJune 24, 2026 06:24 JSTTOKYO -- Rakuten Group will form a satellite business joint venture in Japan with U.S.-based AST SpaceMobile this year, with the new company purchasing and operating satellites and using them to provide direct-to-mobile communications.