Takafumi Horie Advocates Need for Japan's Own Starlink Alternative, Warns Against US Corporate Dependency

On October 15, businessman Takafumi Horie, founder of Livedoor, advocated on his YouTube channel for Japan to develop its own independent satellite communications network. Citing communication restrictions on Ukrainian satellite services, he pointed out security risks of depending on foreign companies' services like SpaceX's Starlink. Horie criticized communication restrictions on drones equipped with Starshield terminals that lose connectivity when exceeding 160 km/h, calling it tantamount to drone disruption. He expressed concern that even allied nations can have their communications usage controlled by US decisions, emphasizing the necessity for each region to maintain its own low-orbit satellite communication network.