en.Wedoany.com Reported - Sharp and Luxembourg-based satellite communication operator SES announced on June 30, 2026, a collaboration in satellite communication services, planning to launch MEO satellite communication services based on SES's O3b mPOWER system in Japan by 2027.

The O3b mPOWER system utilizes MEO satellites at an altitude of approximately 8,000 kilometers. Shigeru Kobayashi, Executive Director, Co-COO, Smart Workplace Business Group at Sharp, stated that this system offers lower latency than GEO satellites and more stable coverage than LEO satellites, combining the advantages of both.

In the future, multiple solutions will be provided based on customer needs. Yuhiro Nakae, General Manager of Sharp's Communication Business Division, noted that current satellite communication services in Japan struggle to meet the requirements for communication speed and bandwidth guarantees in specific usage scenarios, and aims to address customer challenges through SES's high-quality lines. Plans include gradually offering solutions that integrate Sharp-developed satellite communication terminals, enabling one-stop provision from satellite communication lines to terminal installation and maintenance, as well as solutions for various industries. Regarding specific terminal plans, a MEO satellite communication terminal supporting O3b mPOWER will be available in 2027. After 2030, commercialization is planned for satellite communication terminals compliant with the 5G-NTN standard (supporting LEO satellites and multi-orbit), as well as ultra-compact satellite communication terminals that can be mounted on drones and other platforms.

The satellite communication terminals will feature flat panel antennas. Unlike conventional parabolic antennas, these terminals are planar, thin, and lightweight, offering excellent installation and portability. This technology leverages Sharp's miniaturization expertise in antenna peripherals accumulated during smartphone development.