AST & Science LLC tapped NEC Platforms, Ltd., to manufacture satellite modules for AST SpaceMobile's low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites, the company said in a release.
AST developed new satellite technology to build a global broadband cellular network that current smartphones can connect to without the need for special hardware, the company said in a release posted to PRNewswire.com in December.
Users will have the ability to roam from land systems to the space network as needed and remain connected at broadband speeds even in the world's most remote locations, the release said.
"We are pleased to partner with an experienced technology company like NEC Platforms for the production of key components of our satellites," AST SpaceMobile, Inc. Chairman and CEO Abel Avellan said in the release. "NEC's global vision of providing 'Solutions for Society' is closely aligned with AST's own mission of democratizing access to broadband connectivity throughout the world. This agreement is critical for AST to achieve its goal. As an added benefit, the company is exploring financing opportunities with Japanese government-sponsored debt capital sources."
NEC Platforms is a subsidiary of NEC Corporation and a leading manufacturer of IT and network technologies.
"NEC Platforms has rich experience in manufacturing a wide range of IT and network products with high-quality control and efficient supply chain management," NEC Platforms, Ltd., President and NEC Corporation Senior Vice President Kimihiko Fukuda said in the release. "We are excited to be working with AST SpaceMobile to enable its innovative solution with our value-added production capabilities."
This partnership will expand AST SpaceMobile's existing relationships in Japan, which include Rakuten Mobile, a lead investor and a global strategic partner.
"For Rakuten Mobile, AST SpaceMobile's unique technology represents a competitive and efficient path to connecting customers across Japan, and to bolstering mobile service in times of natural disaster or emergency," Representative Director and President of Rakuten Mobile, Inc. Yoshihisa Yamada said.