US and Japan highlight LEO benefits - Alo Japan

US and Japan highlight LEO benefits | Advanced Television

US and Japan highlight LEO benefits

October 7, 2026

By Chris Forrester

In a press release from the US Department of State, the US and Japanese governments are confirming that they are now jointly promoting AST SpaceMobile + Rakuten under the US–Japan Technology Prosperity Deal for the development and deployment of LEO satellite infrastructure. That effectively places AST inside the broader strategic and economic relationship between the two countries.

The significance is that AST/Rakuten is being framed not just as a telecom service, but as infrastructure that can advance economic development, technological leadership, resilient communications and national strategic interests. It seems very clear that the AST/Rakuten JV project aligns with priorities both US and Japanese governments want to see built, funded and scaled.

This fits directly with the broader J-LEO opportunity and AST’s potential access to substantial non-dilutive government-backed capital. Japan wants sovereign, resilient next-generation connectivity, while the U.S. wants trusted American technology deployed across allied markets. AST + Rakuten sits right at the intersection of those objectives — commercial growth backed by strategic alignment at the government-to-government level.

The US statement came from the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy of the United States of America Michael Kratsios who met with Japan’s Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy, Toshiharu Furukawa in Kyoto on October 4th.

“Recognising that technological innovation continues to advance at an unprecedented pace worldwide, the United States and Japan reaffirmed the importance of further strengthening US-Japan collaboration in strategic science and technology capabilities and standards to usher in the next Golden Age of Innovation to fortify freedom and prosperity for generations to come,” the statement said.

“Both sides welcomed Japan’s Rakuten Group and the US-based AST SpaceMobile cooperation for the development and deployment of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite infrastructure,” added the protocol.

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