Collaboration to jointly explore regional and industrial development alongside workforce initiatives in support of Japan’s growing space industry
TOKYO—November 12, 2026—ispace, inc. (ispace) (TOKYO: 9348), a global lunar exploration company, and KDDI Corporation (“KDDI”), a leading Japanese telecommunications company, today announced the signing of a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand their collaboration on the development of lunar communications networks and services. In addition to exploring technology development and demonstrations, the agreement includes regional and industrial development, alongside workforce development initiatives, including potential activities in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.
Building on the MoU signed in March 2025, the two companies have been exploring the development of communications networks on the lunar surface and in cislunar space, as well as the provision of lunar communications services.
Under the new agreement, ispace and KDDI will leverage their respective technologies, facilities, operational know-how, and customer networks to explore joint technology development and demonstrations.
KDDI is also promoting space-related initiatives through the Alliance Park Project, a hub for creating new industries, positioning Yamaguchi as a “gateway to space”. As part of the Alliance Park Project, the two companies will expand the scope of their cooperation to include initiatives aimed at fostering the space industry, developing human resources, and addressing regional challenges in Yamaguchi. Through these initiatives, the companies aim to contribute to broadening the base of Japan’s space industry.
By combining technological expertise and business capabilities, ispace and KDDI aim to explore initiatives that promote regional industries, develop talent, and address local challenges, contributing to the development of Japan’s space industry.
Background
Activities in cislunar space are expected to expand significantly in the coming years, including human exploration, resource development, commercial activities, and space situational awareness (SSA), driven by both government and private-sector initiatives. In addition to transportation capabilities provided by lunar landers and other spacecraft, the development of communications, positioning, and other essential infrastructure will be critical to supporting sustained activities in this region.
To ensure the safe and reliable execution of Japan’s public- and private-sector lunar activities, including space traffic management (STM) and SSA in cislunar space, it will be essential to establish interoperability and coordination with international communications networks, as well as a framework that enables Japan to proactively secure and operate sovereign communication capabilities.
Establishing these sovereign capabilities is also important from the perspective of cislunar security, a concept that encompasses safeguarding Japan’s economic security interests on the lunar surface and throughout cislunar space.
Roles and Areas of Collaboration
ispace
ispace aims to expand its business beyond lunar transportation to include infrastructure services such as communications and positioning, which will be essential to supporting future lunar activities.
In March 2026, ispace announced plans to commercialize its Lunar Connect Service, utilizing its own satellites in lunar orbit to provide communications and positioning capabilities. As an initial step, the company is planning to launch its first lunar orbiting satellite as Mission 2.5, which is planned for launch no earlier than 2027.
KDDI
Since opening its Yamaguchi Satellite Earth Station in 1969, KDDI has provided international communications services connecting Japan with the rest of the world. The facility has served as a key hub for Japan’s international communications and contributed to the development of satellite communications in the country for more than half a century.
Leveraging its existing satellite communications facilities and operational expertise, KDDI will explore the potential use of ground stations to support lunar communications.
KDDI will also evaluate opportunities to collaborate with ispace’s planned services, including its lunar transportation service, utilizing lunar landers and orbital transfer vehicles, its Lunar Connect Service, providing communications and positioning capabilities through lunar orbiting satellites, and its Lunar Data Service, supporting observation, SSA, and other applications. The companies will advance concrete discussions toward technology demonstrations.
Joint Collaboration
ispace and KDDI will explore the development of an integrated lunar communications architecture connecting the lunar surface, cislunar space, and Earth.
This architecture would combine ispace’s planned Lunar Connect Service with capabilities being studied by KDDI, including ground stations for lunar communications, lunar surface mobile communications, and space-based optical communications.
Through the development of a lunar communications network that Japan can independently operate, the companies aim to contribute to the country’s cislunar security. The companies will also pursue discussions and coordination with relevant organizations, including the Japanese government, to support the realization of these capabilities.
Statement of Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO of ispace, inc.
“As lunar activities begin to expand in earnest, the development of communications infrastructure, alongside transportation capabilities, will be essential to establishing a sustainable cislunar economy. By combining KDDI’s expertise in telecommunications technologies and ground station operations with ispace’s capabilities in operating our own lunar orbiting satellites, we believe this collaboration represents a significant step toward realizing infrastructure that seamlessly connects Earth, cislunar space, and the lunar surface. We also expect this initiative to make an important contribution to Japan’s cislunar security by enabling an independently operable Japanese lunar communications network,” said Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO, ispace, inc.
Statement of Akihito Fujii, Executive Officer, General Manager, Advancing Business Technology Sector, KDDI Corporation
“Building on the expertise in space communications that KDDI has developed over many years through its Yamaguchi Satellite Earth Station, as well as our technological and operational experience in mobile communications, we are advancing research and development in ground stations, lunar surface mobile communications, and space-based optical communications to extend our ability to connect people and technologies to the Moon.
We look forward to exploring how KDDI’s communications capabilities can contribute to ispace’s lunar infrastructure business, centered on lunar transportation, while also working together to consider initiatives supporting regional and industrial development and workforce development related to the space industry,” said Akihito Fujii, Executive Officer, General Manager, Advancing Business Technology Sector, KDDI Corporation.
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About ispace, inc. (https://ispace-inc.com)
https://ispace-inc.com/https://x.com/ispace_inc ispace, a global lunar resource development company with the vision, “Expand our planet. Expand our future.”, specializes in designing and building lunar landers, rovers, orbital transfer vehicles, and relay satellites. ispace aims to extend the sphere of human life into space and create a sustainable world by providing high-frequency, low-cost lunar transportation and related services. The company has business entities in Japan, Luxembourg, the United States, and Saudi Arabia, with more than 300 employees worldwide. For more information, visit: www.ispace-inc.com and follow us on X: @ispace_inc.
About KDDI CORPORATION
KDDI is a leading Japanese telecommunications company with over 100 million customers. In recent years, KDDI has expanded beyond its core telecommunications business into areas such as AI, finance, energy, retail, and cybersecurity, contributing to structural reforms across various industries. Globally, KDDI provides mobile services, IoT services for connected cars, and data center connectivity, primarily in North America, Europe, and Asia. KDDI is driving social impact and transformation through its mid-term management strategy, “Power-to-Connect 2028.” For more information, visit the KDDI website.