In October 2026, Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of leading provider of global satellite solutions SES, visited Sharp’s Shibaura office for a dialogue with Sharp CEO Tetsuji (Ted) Kawamura. Since announcing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in June to collaborate on satellite communication services, the two companies have been working together to bring SES’s medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite communication service, O3b mPOWER, to Japan. In their conversation, the two CEOs exchanged views on their expectations for the collaboration and the future they hope to build together.

What SES Expects from Sharp

Adel Al-Saleh shared his expectations for Sharp’s device technology and its strong business presence in the Japanese market:

“We are delighted to be working with Sharp. We learned of Sharp’s strong interest in satellite communications. Today, O3b mPOWER provides stable communication environment, and our next-generation system, meoSphere, is our future and fundamental to evolution of the multi-orbit networked connectivity. Demand for satellite connectivity is growing rapidly in many fields, including energy, agriculture, maritime, and aviation. Working together on these applications fits perfectly with our shared vision. We look forward to building the future of satellite connectivity in Japan together.”

The Collaboration from Sharp’s Perspective

Ted Kawamura expressed his expectations for the partnership with SES, a global provider of satellite communications services, to bring new options to Japan’s communications landscape:

“Sharp has been working on communications technology for many years, from mobile phone development to 5G, and holds numerous standard-essential patents. We aim to create new value through the integration of AI and hardware. This is embodied in our key phrase, “AI Anywhere.” By combining SES’s global satellite network with Sharp’s communications technology and the compact, lightweight design expertise we have accumulated through smartphone development, together we can offer new connectivity options in Japan. The launch of our joint service in Japan in 2027 is merely the first step. Let us build the future of satellite connectivity together.”

The Partnership Moves Steadily into its Next Phase

O3b mPOWER is SES’s MEO satellite communication service, which SES provides in numerous regions around the world. In September 2026, SES successfully launched three more satellites, the 11th, 12th, and 13th in the system. SES has announced that these satellites are expected to enter service by mid-2027.

SES press release: SES’s Final Three O3b mPOWER Satellites Successfully Launched https://www.ses.com/news/press-release/sess-final-three-o3b-mpower-satellites-successfully-launched

Sharp, for its part, is developing flat-panel satellite communication user terminals leveraging its communications technologies and compact, lightweight design expertise cultivated through smartphone development. By combining these terminals with SES’s satellite network, Sharp aims to provide connectivity in Japan whenever it is needed, even in places that terrestrial networks struggle to reach, such as at sea or in mountainous areas.

Coming about four months after the MOU in June, this CEO-to-CEO dialogue marked another milestone in strengthening the collaboration between the two companies toward the launch of service in Japan.

Together Building a New Communications Landscape for Japan

The shared goal of Sharp and SES is to make satellite communication not just a solution for special locations but also a practical option that supports a wide range of industries and on-site operations. To that end, Sharp will continue to deepen its collaboration with SES and work toward launching satellite communication services in Japan using O3b mPOWER.

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Press Release

Sharp Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Major Global Satellite Operator SES to Build a Collaboration in Satellite Communication Services

Satellite Communication User Terminal