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JAXA Selects KDDI to Study Feasibility of Cislunar Communication System Development under the Space Strategy Fund Initiative

―Feasibility Study for Development/Verification of Cislunar Communication―

KDDI Corporation

November 15, 2024 - KDDI Corporation (KDDI) has been awarded a contract by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) under its Space Strategy Fund to study feasibility of Cislunar communication system development.

The study will be conducted by a team led by KDDI, along with KYOCERA Corporation, NEC Space Technologies, Ltd., ArkEdge Space Inc., NEC Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, and KDDI Research, Inc.. During the one-year contract, the team will explore the feasibility of achieving high-capacity communication between Moon and Earth.

As lunar exploration such as the Artemis Program [Jump to the applicable section1] is emerging, there is a growing demand for high-speed, high-capacity communication services to provide high-quality video transmission from astronauts and rovers on the Moon. KDDI and the consortium members will contribute to develop high-quality communication between Moon and Earth using Lunar Exploration Ground Sites (LEGS) compliant ground stations for Direct-to-Earth (DTE) services and 3GPP technologies for lunar surface network.

Since 2022, KDDI has been engaged in studies with regards to lunar navigation and communications with JAXA [Jump to the applicable section2]. KDDI also successfully demonstrated the technology to assemble and install a 3GPP mobile network antenna by collaborating with GITAI USA Inc. [Jump to the applicable section3]. Along with these outcomes and our knowledge of terrestrial network infrastructure construction and operation to provide high-quality communication services, KDDI will take a step forward to study how to realize the vital infrastructure with the team.

About KDDI

KDDI is a leading Japanese telecommunications company with over 80 million customers. In recent years, KDDI has expanded beyond its core telecommunications business into areas in AI, mobility, retail, advanced financial, web3metaverse, and space to contribute to structural reforms across various industries.
Globally, KDDI provides mobile services, IoT services for connected cars, and data center connectivity under the Telehouse brand, primarily in North America, Europe, and Asia. KDDI also is a pioneer of providing satellite communications service, including Starlink services.
KDDI is driving social impact and transformation through its vision of "Enhancing the Power to Connect x AI". For more information, visit: https://www.kddi.com/english/

  1. [1]A United-States-led international human spaceflight program that aims to return humans to the Moon and to prepare for the next exploration of Mars.
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