Big news from the tech world today as the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT), NTT DOCOMO, Inc., NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com), and SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (SKY Perfect JSAT) have announced a strategic partnership with Amazon’s Project Kuiper. The collaboration aims to enhance the telecom services in Japan using the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite broadband network of Project Kuiper. It is indeed a significant leap forward for connectivity options in Japan.
The partnering companies, including NTT and SKY Perfect JSAT, have a plan to spread Project Kuiper connectivity services to enterprises and government organizations. At the same time, NTT Group companies will turn into customers for Project Kuiper. The focus is on utilizing Project Kuiper to broaden customer reach, thereby allowing for redundant communication networks.
“Improving connectivity infrastructure will become even more important in the future to help solve various issues facing society and to establish sustainable economic and social activities,” stated Katsuhiko Kawazoe, senior executive vice president of NTT.
Despite Japan’s advances in telecom infrastructure such as fiber and wireless technologies, the geography of the country, full of mountains and islands, poses a significant challenge. Rapid recovery in terms of connectivity after any natural disaster or emergencies is cumbersome. It is here that Project Kuiper steps in as it is adaptable and offers a quick solution.
NTT DOCOMO, Japan’s top mobile network provider, intends to employ Project Kuiper to include hard-to-reach areas within its core telecom network. This step should enhance its reach without the need for time-consuming and costly fiber or fixed wireless infrastructure deployment.
Furthermore, the strategic collaboration will open new avenues for Japanese businesses to support a wide array of applications such as IoT, predictive maintenance, fleet management, and remote manufacturing using Project Kuiper connection. Notably, its customers can also connect Project Kuiper to Amazon Web Services (AWS) supporting advanced AI and machine learning technologies.
Going forth, Project Kuiper along with NTT, SKY Perfect JSAT, and other associated companies will explore wider scopes for uninterrupted communication between Earth and space. The objective is to stimulate innovation, enabling customers to optimize their resources and offering better options in sectors like healthcare and finance.
“NTT, SKY Perfect JSAT, Project Kuiper, and the NTT Group companies share the mission of keeping customers connected no matter what situations arise and helping them continue to innovate by harnessing data from virtually anywhere,” added Rajeev Badyal, vice president of technology and head of Project Kuiper.
Additionally, Project Kuiper recently tested its prototype satellite with a 100% success rate, thereby validating its crucial technologies. The expectant launch of beta testing with select partners and customers will kick off during the second half of 2024, with the inclusion of NTT and SKY Perfect JSAT in the testing process, acting as a testament to the promising future of this collaboration.
