The Space Compass space integrated computing network concept. Photo: JSAT/NTT/Space Compass

Sky Perfect JSAT and Japanese telco NTT are working together to form a new joint venture, Space Compass Corporation, to establish an integrated space computing network. The joint venture, announced April 26, will take on the challenge of building new infrastructures in space in order to contribute to a sustainable society.

Space Compass plans to launch an optical data relay service for high-speed data transmission to the ground via a Geostationary (GEO) satellite. This will carry data collected in space by observation satellites. In addition, Space Compass plans to use high altitude platform stations (HAPSs) to provide low-latency communication services in Japan by fiscal year 2025 to provide communication for disasters, ships and aircraft, and distant islands and remote areas. Eventually, the company plans to use these two business to offer a high-capacity communication/computing processing infrastructure in space.

The two companies will both have a 50 percent stake in the new company and plan to begin operations in July this year. This latest announcement from the two companies builds on an earlier collaboration agreement in 2021. JSAT and NTT plan to invest 6 billion yen in the new company initially, including capital reserve.