Rakuten is a tech company that offers electronic commerce solutions in Japan and internationally. The company operates in three segments such as internet services, finance services, and others.  The internet services segment comprises businesses running various e-commerce sites, including Rakuten Ichiba, an internet shopping mall; travel booking sites; portal sites; and e-book businesses as well as businesses for advertising and sale of contents and similar on these sites.  Its offerings include e-reading, online travel reservations, online auctions, online marketing, online golf course reservations, portal sites, search engines, integrated internet marketing, online recipe posting and browsing, student recruiting community, online purchase of discount coupons, online shopping, and video on demand services. It is involved in the online sale of books, CDs, and DVDs.  The internet finance segment is engaged in providing services related to banking and securities, credit cards, life insurance, and electronic money. This segment provides credit card payment, internet banking, online brokerage, online comprehensive insurance, and face-to-face and online life insurance services as well as credit card transactions on smartphones and tablets.  The other segments are involved in the provision of communications services such as next-generation LTE-compatible mobile data communication, telecommunications, internet connection and corporate mobile phone services, and management of a professional baseball team.  The company was formerly known as MDM, Inc. and changed its name to Rakuten, Inc. in June 1999. Rakuten, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Rakuten

Vodafone is a mobile telecommunications company that offers voice, messaging, and data services across mobile and fixed networks; fixed broadband and TV services; cloud and hosting as well as internet protocol-virtual private network services; roaming services; and unified communications services. The company also provides M-Pesa, a mobile money transfer and payment service that enables customers to access their bank accounts to send and receive money, purchase goods, pay bills, and save money and receive short-term loans, and Vodafone One Net, a converged fixed and mobile communications service for large and multinational companies as well as small- and medium-sized companies. In addition, Vodafone offers machine-to-machine business solutions and carrier services such as fixed and mobile connectivity and other services, such as smartphones and tablets, as well as telematics products and services. It sells its products through approximately 16,000 branded stores, distribution partners, and third-party retailers.

Vodafone

The Cisneros Group is a global media and entertainment leader focused on the vibrant and fast-growing Hispanic market.   The Cisneros Group produce and distribute some of the world’s most popular Spanish-language programming, reaching 550 million viewers in more than 100 countries.

Cisneros Group

American Tower is an independent owner, operator, and developer of wireless and broadcast communications real estate. Their global portfolio includes 225,000 communications sites. They provide solutions through their in building systems, outdoor distributed antenna systems, other right of way options, managed rooftops, and services that speed network deployment.

American Tower

Samsung NEXT Ventures is an investment arm of Samsung NEXT, a multifaceted innovation group within Samsung Electronics dedicated to identifying new growth opportunities that will define the next decade. The firm prefers to invest in artificial intelligence, fintech, blockchain, health technology, infrastructure, and media technology sectors.

Samsung NEXT

AST SpaceMobile

AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global broadband cellular network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on our extensive IP and patent portfolio. The company's team of engineers and space scientists are on a mission to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by today's five billion mobile subscribers and finally bring broadband to the billions who remain unconnected. The company was founded on May 31, 2017 and is headquartered in Midland, TX.

AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global broadband cellular network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on our extensive IP and patent portfolio. The company's team of engineers and space scientists are on a mission to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by today's five billion mobile subscribers and finally bring broadband to the billions who remain unconnected. The company was founded on May 31, 2017 and is headquartered in Midland, TX.

AST SpaceMobile Announces First Five Commercial Satellites Completed Final Assembly and Ready for Shipment the First Week of August

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Company - AST SpaceMobile

AST SpaceMobile CEO Publishes Letter to Partners, Shareholders, and Future Space-Based Cellular Broadband Network Users

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Verizon and AST SpaceMobile have a $100 million deal for satellite cellular service

AST SpaceMobile and Verizon Announce Plans to Target 100 Percent Geographical Coverage of the Continental United States from Space on Premium 850 MHz Cellular Spectrum

AT&T, AST SpaceMobile Announce Commercial Agreement

AST SpaceMobile to Provide Quarterly Business Update on August 14, 2024

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AST SpaceMobile stock surges 69%, its best day ever, after Verizon satellite internet deal

A new generation for mobile connectivity with 5G and beyond

Next-gen Mobile Networks

AST Space Mobile

AST SpaceMobile Announces Participation in Upcoming Conferences

Blue Origin

To expand AST SpaceMobile's cellular broadband network and enable direct smartphone connectivity by launching multiple Block 2 BlueBird satellites into low Earth orbit using Blue Origin's New Glenn rockets.

Technology to explore opportunities beyond Earth

Space Travel and Exploration Tech

Companies that facilitate space habitats capable of supporting humans in orbit for longer durations

AT&T

To provide 100% nationwide cellular coverage across the United States, including rural and underserved areas, by delivering space-based broadband connectivity through AST SpaceMobile’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, which integrates seamlessly with standard mobile devices.

Companies that offer 5G/6G connectivity solutions for enterprises for use in private telecommunications, using satellites and other space-based equipment

To provide cellular broadband service in remote, off-grid locations, enabling AT&T to offer voice, data, text, and video services directly to standard smartphones without the need for special devices.

To provide satellite-based voice, text, and broadband connectivity to iPhone 12 and 13 users, leveraging AST SpaceMobile's satellite network and AT&T's 5G infrastructure.

Companies that develop hardware and equipment for mobile service providers and enterprises to build, maintain and optimize private 5G/6G networks, including switches, antennas, microchips, and routers

AT&T has placed purchase orders for network equipment from AST SpaceMobile to support planned commercial service, for an undisclosed amount

Alphabet

Google and AST SpaceMobile have partnered on product development, testing, and deployment strategies to enable SpaceMobile network access on Android and similar devices.

AST SpaceMobile and AT&T test AST SpaceMobile's space-based 5G cellular broadband capabilities and new data rate of 14 Mbps

SpaceMobile has inked commercial agreements with AT&T to deliver 4G and 5G connections from its satellites to the operators' existing mobile customers via their regular, unmodified cell phones.

Astranis is a San Francisco-based company that designs and manufactures small, low-cost telecommunications satellites to provide broadband internet access in remote and underserved areas. The company's unique approach involves building compact geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites weighing around 400-600 kilograms, significantly smaller than traditional GEO satellites that can be the size of a school bus.
Astranis' satellites utilize a proprietary software-defined radio payload technology, allowing for frequency and coverage flexibility, as well as efficient spectrum utilization. The company's first commercial satellite, Arcturus, launched in April 2023, was designed to provide over 7.5 gigabits per second (Gbps) of throughput in the Ka-band to triple satellite internet capacity across Alaska through a partnership with Pacific Dataport Inc. However, Arcturus experienced solar power issues post-launch, limiting its capabilities.
To address this, Astranis deployed a multi-mission satellite called UtilitySat in 2023 as an interim solution. UtilitySat can provide connectivity across Ku, Ka, and Q/V bands and has the ability to reposition multiple times within the GEO belt, thanks to its dual chemical and electric propulsion system.
Astranis' satellites have a designed lifespan of around 8-10 years, roughly half that of conventional GEO satellites. The company operates the satellites it builds and leases the capacity to customers, including telcos, Fortune 500 companies, and governments. In 2024, Astranis unveiled plans for its next-generation Omega satellites, designed to provide over 50 Gbps of throughput, five times more than the current generation. The Omega satellites will feature solid-state power amplifiers instead of traditional vacuum tubes, improving efficiency and reducing weight.
By the end of 2024, Astranis aims to have contracts worth over USD 1.2 billion in revenue from satellites sold, with customers in countries like Mexico, Argentina, Thailand, and the Philippines. The company has also expressed interest in competing for the Protected Tactical SATCOM - Global (PTS-G) program, a US government initiative for a proliferated GEO telecoms constellation.

Astranis

Baicells Technologies is a provider of disruptive 4G LTE and 5G cellular solutions that connect more than 50 countries globally. The company's innovative solutions leverage the shared Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum, enabling enterprises, service providers, and various industries to access premium mid-band spectrum for private cellular networks. Baicells' end-to-end solutions are designed to be cost-effective and operationally simple, making it easier to provide wireless broadband connectivity to underserved areas.
Baicells' solutions include LTE and 5G access points, customer premises equipment (CPE), mobile core, and management platforms. The company's Nova-233 eNodeB, for instance, can deliver up to 112 Mbps downlink and 20 Mbps uplink, serving up to 96 concurrent users per LTE base station. Baicells' offerings cater to a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, sports venues, wireless internet service providers (WISPs), education, airports, outdoor events, and multi-dwelling units.
In February 2023, Baicells, along with partners CELLocity, ALEF Edge, and LittleBird, deployed a private LTE solution for a residential rental community in Phoenix, Arizona. This deployment, recognized by the OnGo Alliance, demonstrates the growing adoption of Baicells' solutions across various sectors. Additionally, in January 2020, Baicells partnered with Streakwave Wireless, a global distributor, to expand its market reach.

BaiCells Technologies

Business Mobility Systems is a technology company focused on developing solutions for mobile workforce management. The company offers a range of products and services to help organizations optimize the productivity and efficiency of their mobile employees.

Business Mobility Systems

Aispire specializes in providing advanced data analytics solutions for industries with demanding data requirements. The company's platform enables businesses to collect, process, retain, and analyze massive amounts of data where it resides, offering insights at extreme scale, speed, and efficiency. Aispire's technology allows seamless analysis across all data sources, with the ability to drill down to granular levels without the need for redesigning, reloading, or restructuring data. The platform supports the deployment and training of machine learning models without requiring businesses to build their own MLOps infrastructure. Aispire emphasizes data security by retaining data close to its point of creation, thereby maintaining data sovereignty. The company claims to deliver solutions from concept to production in a matter of days, providing fast time to value for its clients.Aispire's offerings include Network Intelligence for communication service providers, Smart Manufacturing solutions to enhance efficiency in industrial settings, and Embedded and White Label options for businesses looking to incorporate data insights into their products. The company's technology is built on patented innovations that unify data source integrations, ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes, and in-stream AI/ML capabilities with a data mesh storage architecture. This architecture is designed to optimize the analysis of geographically distributed data sources, whether on-premise, in the cloud, or at the edge. Aispire's product lineup includes Aispire Pipelines, which offers production-ready operational pipelines with integrated MLOps, and AispireDB, a geo-distributed analytical database.

Aispire

Illuminate Technologies is a cybersecurity company specializing in solutions for mobile and carrier IP networks. The company's products cover security requirements across 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G mobile infrastructure, as well as virtualized network infrastructure. Illuminate combines three decades of experience in telecommunication networks, remote sensing, and enterprise-scale data analytics with innovations in cloud computing, IoT, edge computing, and artificial intelligence to address complex customer challenges. The company's offerings include a Roaming Visibility capability, which was selected by a key customer in a European country. Illuminate also provides security solutions that address the adoption of P5G networks, which are increasingly being used to enhance national security and military performance. The company has offices in Los Angeles, California; Columbia, Maryland; and Edinburgh, Scotland.
Key customers and partnerships
Illuminate serves customers in the telecommunications sector, including mobile network operators. The company has provided its Roaming Visibility capability to a key customer in a European country.

Illuminate Technologies

Companies that offer 5G/6G connectivity solutions for enterprises to use in private telecommunications, using cell towers, base stations and other terrestrial infrastructure

Companies that develop next-generation software solutions for mobile service providers and enterprises to manage and optimize cloud infrastructure and network services

Provides 5G/6G telecom technologies to offer lower latency and increased capacity and coverage

Earth-based hardware and telecom software companies adopt AI/ML for design and RAN automation

Some network optimization companies offer a single network to connect users and IoT devices globally

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

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 Blue Origin and AST SpaceMobile have teamed up to launch several Block 2 BlueBird satellites into low Earth orbit using New Glenn rockets. The rockets are set to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station over a multi-year period. New Glenn's seven-meter fairing offers greater payload volume than any other five-meter commercial launch system, facilitating increased satellite deployment and improved worldwide cellular broadband coverage. This partnership will enhance AST SpaceMobile’s cellular broadband network, allowing direct smartphone connectivity, and smooth transitions between terrestrial cell towers and satellite signals.
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AST Space Mobile

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