―Starlink Mobile service will be sequentially available in Canada, the Philippines, and New Zealand beginning in June―
KDDI CORPORATION
Okinawa Cellular Telephone Company
TOKYO, April 23, 2026―KDDI and Okinawa Cellular today announced that beginning in June 2026, they will expand international roaming for "au Starlink Direct subscribers." In addition to the United States, the service will be extended to include Canada, the Philippines and New Zealand, bringing the total number of supported countries to four.
■Partner Carriers and Launch Dates [
1]
| Country | Partner Carrier | Scheduled Launch |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Rogers Communications Canada Inc. | June,2026 |
| The Philippines | Globe Telcom, Inc. | By September,2026 |
| New Zealand | Spark New Zealand | Later in 2026 |
| United States | T-Mobile USA, Inc | Currently available |
All customers subscribed to "au Starlink Direct" will be able to use data communications in out-of-coverage areas within these countries without any application procedures for the time being.
To use the service, customers must update their compatible device to the latest software and enable the data roaming setting. Once configured, a customer's device will automatically connect to Starlink Mobile satellites supported by the partner carrier when they enter an out-of-cellular-coverage area in the supported country, initiating satellite-based international roaming. This satellite roaming service is powered by Starlink Mobile, which is the world's largest and only satellite-to-mobile constellation that offers data, voice and messaging.
The au Starlink Direct service supports satellite-ready apps including WhatsApp, X and LINE. When used in combination with au's global services such as au Overseas Flat Rate (au Kaigai Hodai), customers will enjoy seamless connectivity on their usual smartphone, whether they are inside or outside of cellular coverage areas.
Through the continued expansion of au Starlink Direct's international roaming services, KDDI aims to further evolve its "power to connect" and help create a society where everyone can achieve their goals.
(Reference)
■About Using au Starlink Direct International Roaming
To use "au Starlink Direct" abroad, you must update your device to the latest software and enable data roaming. For now, the service is available to "au Starlink Direct" subscribers at no additional charge for the time being.
A list of compatible devices will be made available on this page. (in Japanese only)Open in a new window [2]
For detailed setup instructions, please visit this page. (in Japanese only)Open in a new window
For a list of supported data communication apps, please visit this page. (in Japanese only)Open in a new window
■About au Starlink Direct
"au Starlink Direct" is a service that directly connects smartphones to Starlink Mobile's 650 satellite constellation, bringing connectivity to areas where traditional cell service doesn't reach. In addition to text messaging, sharing location data, receiving emergency earthquake alerts, and consulting with an AI, users can also use data satellite communication with SAT-enabled apps.
While au's network coverage boasts over 99.9% of the population, its area coverage is around 60% due to Japan's unique geography. "au Starlink Direct" extends connectivity to the remaining 40% of the country, providing essential communication for daily use and emergencies such as in mountainous regions and remote islands where it is difficult to establish conventional communication infrastructure. The service will be available to both existing au customers and customers who have contracts with au Starlink Direct plan.
- [1]Further details, including start dates for each country, will be announced on the KDDI website in due course.
- [2]Future compatible devices will be added to support the Starlink Mobile satellite frequency bands provided by our partner carriers.
- *The information contained in the articles is current at the time of publication.
Products, service fees, service content and specifications, contact information, and other details are subject to change without notice.