A Japanese TV satellite company is reinventing itself as a company that watches the Earth from space. SKY Perfect JSAT plans to field 100 satellites combining observation and communications: a completely different game from SpaceX and Amazon, and a new chapter for Japan's space industry.

Asia's Biggest Satellite Operator Declares a Transformation

On March 11, 2026, SKY Perfect JSAT Holdings held its "Space Business IR DAY 2026," unveiling a sweeping new growth strategy. Teruo Yamashita, the company's executive managing officer in charge of space operations, announced a vision to transform from a traditional satellite communications provider into a "space solutions provider."

SKY Perfect JSAT is Asia's largest satellite operator, managing 17 communications satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO), the high orbit where satellites appear stationary above the Earth. But the company is now pivoting hard into low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite-based Earth observation, a segment expected to see explosive growth in the coming years.

At the heart of this pivot is a "multi-orbit strategy." Rather than relying on just one type of satellite at one altitude, SKY Perfect JSAT plans to layer geostationary communication satellites, low-orbit observation satellites, and even stratospheric platforms called HAPS (High Altitude Platform Stations), essentially solar-powered drones flying at 20 kilometers altitude, into a unified space infrastructure.

A $230 Million Bet on Planet Labs' Best Cameras

One of the key pillars of this strategy is a major partnership with U.S.-based Planet Labs. JSAT Beyond Innovation, a U.S. subsidiary of SKY Perfect JSAT, will acquire 10 next-generation optical observation satellites called "Pelican" from Planet Labs, investing $230 million (approximately 36.5 billion yen) in the deal.

The Pelican satellites boast 30-centimeter resolution, currently the highest among commercial optical satellites. That's sharp enough to identify specific car models on the ground. The first satellite is scheduled for launch in 2026, with the full 10-satellite constellation to be operational by fiscal year 2027. Manufacturing is already underway in the United States.

By owning and operating its own satellites, SKY Perfect JSAT gains the ability to reliably capture high-resolution data on demand, rather than purchasing it from other providers. This shift from data buyer to data producer represents a fundamental change in the company's business model.

The "Virtual Constellation": Reaching 100 Satellites Through Partnerships

Perhaps the most ambitious element is the concept of a "Virtual Constellation." Rather than building and launching all 100 satellites itself, SKY Perfect JSAT plans to integrate data from partner companies' satellites into a unified system. Yamashita stated clearly that the company aims to achieve a 100-satellite constellation by combining its own satellites with those of its partners.

As part of this approach, SKY Perfect JSAT increased its stake in QPS Holdings, a company that develops and operates small SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellites, from 5.9% to 13.25% in March 2026. SAR satellites use microwave signals instead of visible light, enabling them to observe the Earth even at night or through cloud cover. QPS Institute launched its small SAR satellite "Yachihoko-I" (QPS-SAR Unit 14) in November 2025.

Looking ahead, the company plans to expand its sensor portfolio beyond optical and SAR to include LiDAR (laser radar), thermal infrared, and hyperspectral imaging, building what it calls a comprehensive capability to "see the Earth."

How Is This Different from Starlink and Amazon Leo?

Readers familiar with the satellite industry might wonder how SKY Perfect JSAT's plans compare to SpaceX's Starlink or Amazon's Leo (formerly Project Kuiper).

The short answer: they're playing completely different games.

Starlink and Amazon Leo are broadband internet services, they deliver high-speed connectivity to consumers and businesses using vast constellations of thousands of satellites. With over 9,000 satellites in orbit and more than 8 million active subscribers, Starlink has become a global internet provider.

SKY Perfect JSAT, on the other hand, is building an Earth observation and data analytics business. Its satellites will photograph and scan the planet, and the resulting data will be processed using AI to deliver actionable insights for agriculture, disaster response, urban infrastructure monitoring, environmental protection, and national security.

The company already operates "Spatio-i," a platform that combines satellite imagery with AI analysis, serving clients in disaster management and agriculture. It has also partnered with Japanese mapping company Zenrin and engineering firm Nippon Koei to offer satellite-based disaster prevention services.

Interestingly, SKY Perfect JSAT isn't competing with Starlink or Amazon Leo, it's partnering with both. The company is certified to resell Starlink Business services in Japan, and along with NTT Group, serves as Amazon Leo's distribution partner in the Japanese market. Rather than rivals, they're complementary players in a multi-layered space economy.

Space Compass: The Joint Venture with NTT

No discussion of SKY Perfect JSAT's space strategy is complete without mentioning Space Compass, a joint venture established with NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone) in 2022. The two companies invested equally, with NTT bringing its expertise in optical communications and terrestrial networks, and SKY Perfect JSAT contributing its decades of satellite operations experience. The venture aims to eventually grow into a $650 million business.

Space Compass focuses on two main areas. First, it's developing a geostationary data relay satellite service that dramatically reduces the time lag in getting data from LEO observation satellites to the ground. Traditional LEO satellites can only transmit data when they pass over a ground station, typically a 90 to 100-minute wait. By relaying data through a geostationary satellite, this delay can be cut to near real-time.

Second, Space Compass is working with Airbus subsidiary AALTO on HAPS deployment, using the solar-powered "Zephyr" unmanned aircraft to provide communications coverage in mountainous areas, remote islands, and disaster zones where ground-based mobile networks can't reach.

Japan's Space Industry: The Road to a $52 Billion Market

SKY Perfect JSAT's transformation fits within a much larger national story. The Japanese government has set a target of doubling the space industry from roughly 4 trillion yen ($26 billion) in 2020 to 8 trillion yen ($52 billion) by the early 2030s.

Backing this ambition is the Space Strategy Fund, a ¥1 trillion ($6.6 billion) program housed at JAXA and spanning 10 years. Its first phase, worth ¥300 billion ($1.9 billion), opened for applications in fiscal 2024 and selected 55 projects across 22 technology themes. A third phase worth ¥200 billion across 19 themes was set out in February 2026.

Japan's space startup ecosystem is thriving. More than 50 space startups are now active, including Synspective (SAR satellites), Astroscale (debris removal), and ispace (lunar landers). Several have listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and 2024 saw at least 20 space-related companies secure new funding rounds.

SKY Perfect JSAT's 100-satellite constellation plan represents the most significant move yet by a major Japanese space company to capture this growth. A company once known mainly for TV broadcasting is reinventing itself as an Earth observation and data solutions enterprise, and its success or failure will say a lot about the future of Japan's space industry.

What about your country? How developed is the private satellite industry, and what role do you think Earth observation data should play in society? We'd love to hear your thoughts.

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