KDDI to Launch Service Relaying SOS Messages via Satellites

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)–KDDI Corp. said Thursday that it will launch a service in late May that will relay emergency messages sent from outside the coverage area of its mobile base stations via Space X’s Starlink satellite communication network. The new service will allow users to send information, such as their names and the number of people requiring help, through apps such as “au NaviWalk.” KDDI’s SOS center will receive such messages around the clock. The center will alert fire departments and other emergency response institutes in the nearby area, based on the content of these messages and location data. The service will be available to subscribers to KDDI’s mainstay “au” brand mobile plans and the Starlink service. KDDI will also offer a service for its corporate customers that enables satellite communication in areas where its network is unavailable. This service is expected to help detect signs of disasters, such as floods, and bear and deer appearances. Domestic mobile phone carriers’ networks cover about 99 pct of Japan’s population, but only around 60 pct of the country’s area. Therefore, the carriers are promoting efforts to eliminate such out-of-service areas. Leading the domestic industry, KDDI began allowing its users to connect directly to the Starlink network in April last year. SoftBank Corp. launched a similar service on April 10 this year, and NTT Docomo Inc. will begin such a service on Monday. Rakuten Mobile Inc. also plans to launch a similar service using AST SpaceMobile Inc.’s commercial satellites by the end of this year. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]