Start of On-Orbit Demonstration Experiment for Low Earth Orbit Satellite MIMO Technology and Satellite Sensing Technology
NTT and JAXA have commenced on-orbit demonstration experiments for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite MIMO technology and satellite sensing technology. The LEOMI device, onboard the Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-4 (Small Demonstration Satellite-4) launched on December 14, 2025, has confirmed normal operation. The approximately one-year experiment aims to establish these technologies, which are expected to improve communication quality and enable IoT device utilization in areas without terrestrial networks.
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- 📰 Published: April 16, 2026 at 00:00
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The Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-4 (Small Demonstration Satellite-4), carrying eight demonstration theme devices including the Low Earth Orbit Satellite MIMO/IoT Transmission Device (LEOMI) for demonstrating "Low Earth Orbit Satellite MIMO Technology" and "Satellite Sensing Technology," was launched on December 14, 2025 (Japan time).
The on-orbit demonstration experiment for LEOMI has commenced, and the checkout test confirming normal operation has been completed, marking the end of the initial operational phase.
Regular operations for full-scale experiments have begun, and MIMO transmission communication has been established.
Approximately one year of experiments are planned, aiming to establish the technology. In the future, applications are expected to include improved communication quality through increased transmission speed for satellite communication services, and the utilization of IoT devices and sensing services in areas without terrestrial communication networks, such as oceans and mountainous regions.
NTT Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Akira Shimada; hereinafter "NTT"), in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (hereinafter "JAXA"), has commenced on-orbit demonstration experiments for the world's first "on-orbit demonstration of a 920MHz band satellite IoT platform utilizing satellite MIMO*1 technology." This involves equipping the Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-4 (Small Demonstration Satellite-4)*2 with the Low Earth Orbit Satellite MIMO/IoT Transmission Device (LEOMI).
The satellite was launched at 12:09 PM on December 14, 2025 (Japan Standard Time, 24-hour notation). Subsequently, the checkout test confirming normal operation of LEOMI on orbit was completed, and the initial operational phase necessary for starting the demonstration was finished, leading to the commencement of regular operations. In regular operations, it was confirmed shortly after commencement that MIMO signal processing was performed as expected. Approximately one year of experiments are planned, aiming to establish this technology.
Establishment of this technology is expected to enable a world where everything is connected globally, through ultra-wide-area low-power sensing services, such as the utilization of IoT devices and sensing services in oceans and mountainous areas where terrestrial communication networks are not developed. NTT will continue to solve social infrastructure-related problems using satellites under the "NTT C89*3" brand.
This technology is scheduled to be exhibited at "Tsukuba Forum 2026*4" to be held on May 27 (Wednesday) and 28 (Thursday), 2026.
Figure 1. Image of "Low Earth Orbit Satellite MIMO Technology-Utilizing Satellite Sensing Platform Demonstration" by NTT and JAXA
1. Background
In recent years, the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite sector has been rapidly growing globally, with nearly 10,000 satellites orbiting Earth as of 2025. This is approximately 10 times the level compared to 10 years ago. International competition is intensifying, particularly driven by private companies such as SpaceX and Amazon.
Against this backdrop, NTT has been advancing its space business initiatives, such as the announcement of the Space Integrated Computing Network concept*5 and the establishment of Space Compass Corporation*6. Furthermore, aiming to create social infrastructure, including the construction of innovative optical network infrastructure that contributes to solving social issues, NTT has been engaged in joint research*7 with JAXA since November 2019. This research combines NTT's optical and wireless network technologies with JAXA's "spacecraft system construction technology" to realize "ultra-high-speed, large-capacity, and secure optical and wireless communication infrastructure that seamlessly connects ground and space."
Space sensing, one of the concepts of the Space Integrated Computing Network, aims to realize an ultra-wide-area satellite sensing platform*8 that utilizes high-definition, large-capacity observation information acquired by satellites and collects sensor data acquired from all locations on the ground. To achieve this, it is essential to realize "Low Earth Orbit Satellite MIMO Technology" to improve the frequency utilization efficiency of radio signals transmitted from LEO satellites to ground stations and enhance transmission capacity, and "Satellite Sensing Technology" to enable the accommodation of various terrestrial LPWA*9 wireless terminals without requiring radio station licenses.
NTT and JAXA applied for and were selected for the demonstration theme of "Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-4" in the "Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration Program" for the demonstration of Low Earth Orbit Satellite MIMO technology and satellite sensing technology. Following the successful launch of Small Demonstration Satellite-4, which carries the demonstration theme devices including LEOMI, at 12:09 PM on December 14, 2025 (Japan Standard Time, 24-hour notation), the world's first "on-orbit demonstration of a 920MHz band satellite IoT platform utilizing satellite MIMO technology" has commenced.
2. Keywords:
The on-orbit demonstration experiment for LEOMI has commenced, and the checkout test confirming normal operation has been completed, marking the end of the initial operational phase.
Regular operations for full-scale experiments have begun, and MIMO transmission communication has been established.
Approximately one year of experiments are planned, aiming to establish the technology. In the future, applications are expected to include improved communication quality through increased transmission speed for satellite communication services, and the utilization of IoT devices and sensing services in areas without terrestrial communication networks, such as oceans and mountainous regions.
NTT Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Akira Shimada; hereinafter "NTT"), in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (hereinafter "JAXA"), has commenced on-orbit demonstration experiments for the world's first "on-orbit demonstration of a 920MHz band satellite IoT platform utilizing satellite MIMO*1 technology." This involves equipping the Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-4 (Small Demonstration Satellite-4)*2 with the Low Earth Orbit Satellite MIMO/IoT Transmission Device (LEOMI).
The satellite was launched at 12:09 PM on December 14, 2025 (Japan Standard Time, 24-hour notation). Subsequently, the checkout test confirming normal operation of LEOMI on orbit was completed, and the initial operational phase necessary for starting the demonstration was finished, leading to the commencement of regular operations. In regular operations, it was confirmed shortly after commencement that MIMO signal processing was performed as expected. Approximately one year of experiments are planned, aiming to establish this technology.
Establishment of this technology is expected to enable a world where everything is connected globally, through ultra-wide-area low-power sensing services, such as the utilization of IoT devices and sensing services in oceans and mountainous areas where terrestrial communication networks are not developed. NTT will continue to solve social infrastructure-related problems using satellites under the "NTT C89*3" brand.
This technology is scheduled to be exhibited at "Tsukuba Forum 2026*4" to be held on May 27 (Wednesday) and 28 (Thursday), 2026.
Figure 1. Image of "Low Earth Orbit Satellite MIMO Technology-Utilizing Satellite Sensing Platform Demonstration" by NTT and JAXA
1. Background
In recent years, the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite sector has been rapidly growing globally, with nearly 10,000 satellites orbiting Earth as of 2025. This is approximately 10 times the level compared to 10 years ago. International competition is intensifying, particularly driven by private companies such as SpaceX and Amazon.
Against this backdrop, NTT has been advancing its space business initiatives, such as the announcement of the Space Integrated Computing Network concept*5 and the establishment of Space Compass Corporation*6. Furthermore, aiming to create social infrastructure, including the construction of innovative optical network infrastructure that contributes to solving social issues, NTT has been engaged in joint research*7 with JAXA since November 2019. This research combines NTT's optical and wireless network technologies with JAXA's "spacecraft system construction technology" to realize "ultra-high-speed, large-capacity, and secure optical and wireless communication infrastructure that seamlessly connects ground and space."
Space sensing, one of the concepts of the Space Integrated Computing Network, aims to realize an ultra-wide-area satellite sensing platform*8 that utilizes high-definition, large-capacity observation information acquired by satellites and collects sensor data acquired from all locations on the ground. To achieve this, it is essential to realize "Low Earth Orbit Satellite MIMO Technology" to improve the frequency utilization efficiency of radio signals transmitted from LEO satellites to ground stations and enhance transmission capacity, and "Satellite Sensing Technology" to enable the accommodation of various terrestrial LPWA*9 wireless terminals without requiring radio station licenses.
NTT and JAXA applied for and were selected for the demonstration theme of "Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-4" in the "Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration Program" for the demonstration of Low Earth Orbit Satellite MIMO technology and satellite sensing technology. Following the successful launch of Small Demonstration Satellite-4, which carries the demonstration theme devices including LEOMI, at 12:09 PM on December 14, 2025 (Japan Standard Time, 24-hour notation), the world's first "on-orbit demonstration of a 920MHz band satellite IoT platform utilizing satellite MIMO technology" has commenced.
2. Keywords: