Tokyo, Japan, October 29, 2025 — ArkEdge Space Inc. (“ArkEdge Space”), a Japanese space startup based in Tokyo that provides comprehensive solutions from planning and design to mass production and operation of micro-satellite constellations, has established a new satellite ground station in Taiki, Hokkaido (Hiroo District). This facility marks the company’s second proprietary ground station, following its first site in Makinohara City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Taiki: A Strategic Location for Ground Station Operations in Northern Japan
The new Taiki ground station will serve as a core infrastructure ensuring stable communications between multiple ArkEdge Space-operated satellites and ground systems. A ground station is a facility equipped with antennas that enable the uplink of control signals and the downlink of satellite data in real time.
Satellite signals are significantly weaker than those used in mobile networks, and they can be highly susceptible to weather and radio-frequency interference. Minimizing radio interference from the surrounding environment is therefore critical. After a thorough evaluation, ArkEdge Space selected Taiki for its optimal conditions, including:
・Favorable weather for stable satellite communications (high number of clear-sky days)
・Low radio frequency interference (RFI)
・A local ecosystem supportive of space industry infrastructure
Taiki Town actively supports Japan’s growing space sector and has become a recognized hub for space-related companies, fostering a collaborative ecosystem.
Advancing Key Technologies for Next-Generation Maritime Infrastructure
The Taiki Ground Station will play a central role in ArkEdge Space’s ongoing projects in maritime innovation. The company is advancing research, development, and commercial deployment across three key domains:
1.Enabling Satellite-Based Maritime Communications via VDES (VHF Data Exchange System)
ArkEdge Space is developing a global, resilient maritime communication network that operates independently of terrestrial infrastructure by deploying a constellation of small communication satellites. It is designed to support the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES), a next-generation maritime communication standard that evolved from the capabilities of AIS (Automatic Identification System), which is currently mandatory for large ships. VDES incorporates several key enhancements, including: ASM (Application Specific Messaging), VDE-TER (terrestrial two-way communications), and VDE-SAT (satellite-based two-way communications). By integrating both terrestrial and satellite links, VDES enables real-time, two-way digital communication with ships even in remote ocean areas.
2.Enhancing Maritime Situational Awareness with Space-Based Sensing
In maritime safety and environmental monitoring, the ability to track the location of all ships—including those not equipped with AIS—is increasingly critical. However, traditional AIS-based tracking has limitations. Some ships may not carry AIS, while others may intentionally disable or spoof signals to avoid detection.
To address this gap, ArkEdge Space is developing a new space-based sensing capability. By detecting and analyzing radio signals—such as emissions from marine radars—via satellite, the system can estimate the direction of signal arrival and infer vessel positions without relying on AIS data. This enables more accurate and comprehensive maritime domain awareness, strengthening both safety and sustainability at sea.
3.Satellite IoT for Maritime and Terrestrial Data Collection
Data from remote oceanic and terrestrial regions, including weather conditions, environmental metrics, or logistics-related information, has traditionally been gathered through mobile or internet-based infrastructure. However, such connectivity is often unavailable in remote or offshore areas.
ArkEdge Space is addressing this challenge by equipping its satellites with low-power, long-range IoT communication modules. These modules enable the collection of sensor data from areas lacking terrestrial connectivity, using space-based relaying. The goal is to establish a wide-area, continuous monitoring infrastructure that supports sustainable observation of both land and sea environments.
Taiki Ground Station Overview
The newly established Taiki Ground Station serves as a core hub in ArkEdge Space’s satellite operations network and is remotely operated from its headquarters in Ariake, Tokyo. The facility includes:
・Antenna height: 5 m
・Parabolic antenna diameter:9 m
・Supported frequency bands:
S-band (uplink/downlink)
X-band (downlink only)
Ka-band (downlink only)
IoT communication antenna: Equipped alongside main antennas
ArkEdge Space plans to continue expanding its ground station network across Japan, with the goal of establishing stations in the northern, central, and southern regions. This will ensure reliable communication with satellites during their passes over Japan and further strengthen the company’s operational capability.
Part of the Taiki Ground Station’s infrastructure was developed with support from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), as part of Japan’s Key and Advanced Technology R&D through Cross Community Collaboration Program for the Development and Demonstration of Maritime Domain Awareness Technology through Satellite Constellations for Ships. This initiative specifically supports the development and demonstration of satellite-based technologies including the deployment of satellite constellations for vessel tracking and data exchange.
About ArkEdge Space
ArkEdge Space is a Japanese space technology company offering end-to-end solutions for micro-satellite constellations—from planning and design to mass production and operations. Guided by its mission of “empowering people with satellites for a prosperous future,” the company is advancing capabilities in Earth observation, maritime satellite communications (VDES), optical communications, and low-Earth orbit satellite positioning, as well as lunar activities and deep space exploration. Through our mission, ArkEdge Space continues to drive the advancement of space innovation and its practical application.
Head Office Location
3F, Dome Ariake Headquarter, 1-3-33 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan
CEO: Takayoshi FUKUYO
Founded: in July 2018
Website: https://arkedgespace.com/