Japanese operator, KDDI has signed an ageement with ispace, a Tokyo-based startup space company.
iSpace has recently raised $90 million Series A funding to send a spacecraft into lunar orbit by 2019, and then land a year later after orbiting the Moon. The funding was led by Japan Airlines, Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings and a host of other companies which includes KDDI.
In addition, KDDI will provide communications technology support for ispace's lunar resource development project for the purpose of further improving applicable communications technologies in the space field.
Through its official partner agreement with "HAKUTO", the first Japanese private lunar exploration team which is managed by ispace, KDDI has been supporting the world's first lunar survey by a private company through the application of its accumulated ICT and communications technology knowledge to the joint development of a communications system for HAKUTO.
The current capital and business alliance will enable KDDI to support ispace's future business growth from a communications technology perspective as well as further enhance the communications technologies which can be applied to space exploration.
