SpaceX and Japanese operator au, a subsidiary of KDDI, have announced a collaboration to deploy next-generation Starlink Mobile V2 satellites in Asia. This initiative expands a partnership that began in 2021 and builds upon the existing au Starlink Direct service. The companies plan to launch the new system's capabilities in 2027.
The V2 satellites feature larger antennas compared to the V1 generation. These hardware upgrades increase the throughput of a single satellite by 20 times and improve data transmission density by 100 times. The system is designed to provide high-speed internet, VoLTE voice calls, and video streaming directly to standard smartphones.
The service targets regions lacking terrestrial infrastructure, such as mountainous areas and remote islands. Users will connect their mobile devices directly to the satellites without requiring additional hardware like satellite dishes. SpaceX aims to bring mobile connectivity in these isolated locations to a performance level comparable to terrestrial 5G networks.
