Rakuten investigates LEO-based satellite IoT tech

Japanese mobile upstart Rakuten has teamed up with the University of Tokyo to look into whether low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites can feasibly offer a direct connection to IoT devices.
Rakuten has a vested interest here. It is working with US-based AST & Science, which has developed a solution that enables LEO satellites to offer 4G and 5G connectivity directly to unmodified smartphones. Rakuten, along with Vodafone, is helping to fund the development and deployment of AST’s LEO network