Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and Infostellar Inc., a provider of cloud-based ground station services for satellite operators, jointly announced that Mitsubishi Electric acquired all shares of Infostellar, making Infostellar a wholly owned subsidiary. Through their collaboration, the two companies aim to expand ground station services for satellite operators, the demand for which is growing rapidly worldwide. Diverse services using small satellite constellations1 are increasing, rapidly growing the need for private-sector companies to develop and provide ground station networks needed to operate satellite-based services.
Mitsubishi Electric has extensive expertise in satellites and ground facilities, having participated in related projects in Japan and overseas. For ground facilities, the company has cultivated advanced antenna and satellite control technologies through its development and manufacture of ground stations for communication, satellite tracking and control, and optical and radio telescopes for astronomical observation. Meanwhile, Infostellar provides ground segment as a service (GSaaS) offerings for orbiting satellites through its proprietary ground station platform, StellarStationTM. By virtually networking ground stations around the world via the cloud, StellarStation provides satellite operators with diverse satellite contact opportunities through a centralized service.
Mitsubishi Electric and Infostellar aim to accelerate the global expansion of ground station networks and establish a high-quality, reliable space communications infrastructure. Their collaboration will combine Mitsubishi Electric’s satellite and ground facility development, manufacturing and system integration capabilities, cultivated over many years in defense and space systems businesses, with Infostellar’s GSaaS platform and agile development capabilities.
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The two companies will develop timely space communications infrastructure tailored to the diverse needs of operators of small-satellite constellations, as well as reduce their initial investment and operational burdens. Leveraging their robust infrastructure, Mitsubishi Electric and Infostellar aim to create new business models in the space industry and contribute to the sustainable growth of space-based activities.
Masahiko Arai, Mitsubishi Electric’s Executive Officer, Group President, Defense & Space Systems, said: “As the use of outer space diversifies and global demand for satellite-based services increases, Infostellar’s innovative business model for cloud-based ground station services will enable the Mitsubishi Electric Group to strengthen its defense and space systems business. By combining Infostellar’s agile development capabilities and global network with Mitsubishi Electric’s manufacturing and integration technologies for satellites and ground facilities, we will provide new solutions that significantly reduce customers’ operational burdens and contribute to the sustainable growth of the space industry.”
Naomi Kurahara, Infostellar’s Representative Director and CEO, said: “Based on our mission of ‘We connect Earth and Space to empower the future,’ we provide satellite operators worldwide with flexible and highly scalable communication infrastructure through Infostellar’s cloud-based ground station platform, StellarStation. We are delighted to take this new step forward by joining the Mitsubishi Electric Group, which has a long history and solid technological capabilities in the space industry. Integrating our technological capabilities will enable us to accelerate the development of large-scale ground station networks and establish them as an integral part of space infrastructure, contributing to the further development of the space industry.”
SOURCE: Businesswire