Eiichi Yonekura, Representative Director, President of SKY Perfect JSAT

In late April, Sky Perfect JSAT announced it is joining forces with Japanese telco NTT to form a new company called Space Compass that will launch an integrated space computing network to aid the realization of a sustainable society. It is a bold move as the two companies look to build new infrastructures in space. In this interview, Via Satellite talks to Eiichi Yonekura, representative director and president of SKY Perfect JSAT about the formation of Space Compass and what is behind JSAT’s sustainable approach.

VIA SATELLITE: Could you tell us about the collaboration with NTT and why you decided to partner them to form Space Compass?

Yonekura: Since we announced the collaboration to create a novel space integrated computing network one year ago [May 2021], SKY Perfect JSAT and NTT have studied the feasibility of building the network from both business and technology perspectives. Finding the path to realize such infrastructures, we have agreed to form the joint venture company, Space Compass. We believe that the collaboration between NTT and SKY Perfect JSAT would generate synergies to help create the integrated space computing network. On top of that, NTT’s huge customer network will bring steady cash-in flow into our business.

VIA SATELLITE: What are the goals and challenges to make Space Compass successful?

Yonekura: As a first step to create the space integrated computing network, we will focus on building two platforms, optical data relay service through GEO [Geostationary Orbit] satellites and mobile communication service through HAPS [High Altitude Platform Station]. Our near-term goal is to capture the necessary market to make Space Compass profitable, while building non-terrestrial network with a multi-layered structure composed of GEO, LEO [Low-Earth Orbit], and HAPS is our long-term goal to provide the integrated services with ultra-low latency, large capacity, ultra-wide area coverage and edge computing required for the beyond 5G era.

Technologies of laser communications terminal and HAPS have not matured, so we must find the best technologies with reasonable costs as soon as possible. Fortunately for us, optical communication payloads are being offered by multiple companies in the market as well as HAPS. We have already listed some candidates for us to contract with in several months.

VIA SATELLITE: Why did SKY Perfect JSAT feel the need to form a new company and partner with NTT in order to do this?

Yonekura: SKY Perfect JSAT and NTT are ideal partners each other because the strengths of the two companies are complementary. SKY Perfect JSAT has considerable space assets and is Asia’s leading satellite operator. NTT has leading-edge optical and wireless communication and photonics-electronics convergence technologies, studying a next-generation ICT [information communication technology] infrastructure, called IOWN [innovative optical and wireless network], which will converge communication and computing. NTT DOCOMO and Airbus have successfully conducted a radio wave propagation test from a HAPS during an 18-day flight last summer. In addition to the risk sharing perspective, fundraising capability together with the partner, whether equity or debt, will benefit this kind of infrastructure project which needs relatively huge investment. Although we are considering further collaboration with the other global companies including tech giants, first of all, [working] with NTT to increase Japan’s presence in the space-based services may lead tangible and intangible supports from the Japanese government and domestic industry.

VIA SATELLITE: Who do you see as the main customers for Space Compass? What are the main target markets?

Yonekura: For the optical data relay service, we see LEO Earth observation operators are our main potential customers. We have existing relationship with such operators as some are our suppliers for the space intelligence business and others are our customers of the teleport business. Last year, we invested in Japanese startup, iQPS Inc., which operates a SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellite constellation. For the mobile network service with HAPS, we see MNOs [mobile network operators], including NTT DOCOMO, are our main potential customers. We plan to provide these MNOs with the HAPS service, which will be able to deliver a seamless service with their terrestrial networks to their end users.

VIA SATELLITE: What is the significance of this venture for JSAT? 

Yonekura: Recently we, SKY Perfect JSAT, announced the net income target of 25 billion Japanese yen  ($183.97 million) or beyond in 2030, investing around 200 billion Japanese yen ($1.47 billion) in both space and media business towards 2030. To achieve this goal, the success of Space Compass will be one of the most significant elements.

VIA SATELLITE: What role do you see space having in the network of the future? How will space integrate with other technologies as part of an overall network?

Yonekura: Our concept, the space integrated computing network aims [for] seamless connections between terrestrial and non-terrestrial network. Since the dawn of the space industry in 1960’s, space has played a role to complement technologies on the Earth. As demands on the ground increase, so does the role of the non-terrestrial network. Space Compass plans to bring the state-of-the-art technologies at the ground level such as IOWN, led by NTT, into our space-based network.

VIA SATELLITE: What do you see as the security issues for such a network? Given what we are seeing in Ukraine and satellite networks being targeted more, what is Space Compass’s security approach?

Yonekura: There is a limit to protecting ourselves from malicious intent with the efforts of one company.

The recent announcement by the White House to be barring anti-satellite missile testing by the U.S. is a good example for diplomatic efforts to protect space. Space is same as the sea. If anyone pollutes it, it will have a negative impact on everyone, including such evil people. We will implement industry standard security devices on our network, contributing the rule making through our government as a member of the space industry.

VIA SATELLITE: We are entering an era where we could see tens of thousands of satellites launched into Low-Earth Orbit. How can we make space sustainable when we are launching so many satellites as an industry?

Yonekura: Aiming to maintain the sustainable space environment and lead the space sustainable development goals (SDGs), SKY Perfect JSAT is developing a satellite system that will remove space debris with a laser technology. LEO operators will be our clients for such a service as well as the optical data relay service provided by Space Compass. We may provide them with a package solution of a debris removal and the optical data relay. Also, in general LEO constellations can be complemented by HAPS, which can suppress the increase of LEO satellites. We believe that not only international collaboration among industrial players but also diplomatic efforts are necessary to prevent space from various threats.

VIA SATELLITE: What are SKY Perfect JSAT’s plans in terms of LEO now? You invested in LeoSat. That didn’t work out. What is next for the operator in terms of LEO?

Yonekura: We are still in discussions with some of the operators planning big LEO constellation how SKY Perfect JSAT or Space Compass can work with them. As the key success factor for LEO constellations is how fast the service is deployed worldwide, global partnership is essential.

VIA SATELLITE: Finally, what would represent success for Space Compass at the end of this decade?

Yonekura: As represented by the Artemis program led by NASA, together with commercial and international partners, human activities spread to the moon, Mars, and beyond. For example, the optical data relay service to be provided by Space Compass may be able to aid such activities. Towards 2030 and beyond, our infrastructure will evolve to be more intelligent and integrated using cutting-edge technologies like IOWN which enables smart computing with rapid and autonomous data processing and lower power consumption in space. Our ultimate goal is to contribute to the creation of a sustainable society.