Starlink Mobile launches with SoftBank Japan

SoftBank began offering “SoftBank Starlink Direct” in Japan on April 10, letting eligible phone users connect to Starlink satellites when they are outside terrestrial coverage. (softbank.jp) The service launched across SoftBank, Ymobile and Linemo. SoftBank said eligible SoftBank plans and Ymobile’s Simple, Simple 2 and Simple 3 plans get it with no application and no extra charge from day one. (softbank.jp) Linemo users and Ymobile customers on other plans can use it without extra charge until the end of June 2026, SoftBank said. From July 2026, those plans are scheduled to require a 1,650 yen monthly option. (softbank.jp) This is a direct-to-phone service: the handset links to a low-Earth-orbit satellite instead of a cell tower when there is no SoftBank 5G or 4G signal and the sky is unobstructed. SoftBank said the service works only outdoors in Japan, including designated territorial waters and part of Japan’s exclusive economic zone. (softbank.jp) The first version is narrower than a normal mobile connection. SoftBank said it supports text messaging, some emergency alerts and data on approved apps, but not voice calls or emergency calling. (softbank.jp; softbank.jp) SoftBank said 82 smartphone models were supported as of April 10, with software updates required on compatible devices. It also said apps including Line, PayPay and Yahoo Japan services would begin rolling out over the satellite link from April 13. (softbank.jp) Japan’s other big carriers have been moving in the same direction. NTT Docomo said on April 2 that its own “docomo Starlink Direct” service would start on April 27 for about 22 million customers on all plans, including Ahamo, free for the time being. (docomo.ne.jp) KDDI moved earlier. In August 2025, it said “au Starlink Direct” had expanded from text-only service to app data over satellite, describing the satellites as functioning like “a cellphone tower in space.” (newsroom.kddi.com) SoftBank framed its launch around coverage gaps in mountains, remote islands, offshore areas and disaster zones where ground equipment may be unavailable or damaged. The company said satellite links can also be unstable in dense urban areas, inside vehicles or under heavy tree cover because the phone needs a clear line of sight to the satellite. (softbank.jp; softbank.jp) The immediate change for Japanese users is not full satellite phone service, but a fallback connection for messages and a small set of apps when the regular network disappears. SoftBank’s rollout puts that backup on sale now, with broader carrier competition arriving later this month. (softbank.jp; docomo.ne.jp)