As reported by Japan's Sankei Shimbun, the Japanese government is forging ahead with the development of a "Japanese equivalent of Starlink" system, primarily driven by security considerations. This proposed system intends to leverage a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation to establish self - sufficient domestic communication services.

The LEO satellite constellation is a network comprising anywhere from tens to thousands of small satellites. These satellites orbit the Earth at altitudes ranging from 200 to 2,000 kilometers above the planet's surface. They are designed to facilitate mobile voice calls and enable seamless data communications.

The significance of satellite communications in disaster protection became more apparent to the Japanese public following the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake. At present, Japan relies heavily on overseas operators for its satellite communication needs. This dependence has raised concerns within the government, as there is a fear that the market could be overly dominated by foreign entities.

In response to this situation, Japan has earmarked 150 billion yen (roughly equivalent to US$960 million) in the supplementary budget for the fiscal year 2025. This funding is intended to subsidize companies that are involved in launching satellites and providing communication services. It is anticipated that applications for these subsidies will commence before the end of March 2026. Already, multiple companies have expressed keen interest in participating in this initiative.