SES and Sharp Partner for Japanese MEO Connectivity Services

SES and Sharp Corporation have signed a MoU to collaborate on satellite connectivity services in Japan, combining SES’s Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) network with Sharp’s communications technologies and terminal development capabilities.

The partnership will focus on delivering high-availability connectivity for industrial and mobility applications, particularly in locations where terrestrial networks are unavailable or unreliable. Potential use cases include maritime connectivity, remote industrial operations, heavy equipment monitoring, and future autonomous vehicle applications.

As part of the collaboration, Sharp is developing a compact MEO user terminal designed to support wider deployment of satellite communications across a range of sectors. The company intends to provide end-to-end services spanning terminal development, service delivery and ongoing operations.

The agreement expands the reach of SES’ MEO network beyond traditional enterprise and government markets, where its O3b constellation has increasingly been positioned as a low-latency alternative for customers requiring fibre-like performance in locations where terrestrial infrastructure is impractical or unavailable.

Japan remains an attractive market for satellite connectivity, particularly across maritime, industrial and remote-area applications where resilient communications are becoming increasingly important. Combining SES's satellite infrastructure with Sharp's local market presence and communications expertise, the two companies aim to accelerate adoption of MEO-based services across these sectors.

SOURCE: https://www.ses.com/news/news-flash/ses-sharp-to-collaborate-on-japan-meo-satellite-services