January 30, 2026 Decision on the Granting of a Subsidy to the Japan Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Communications Project for Ensuring Autonomy under the FY2025 Supplementary Budget (hereinafter the "J-LEO Project")

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has decided to grant a subsidy for the J-LEO Project to Communications and Information Network Association of Japan (CIAJ).

1. Overview

　LEO satellite communications services will become a new infrastructure supporting future social and economic activities. To ensure their autonomy, the MIC has decided to implement the J-LEO Project using the FY2025 supplementary budget.

　The Digital Infrastructure Development Fund (Fund for Promoting the Development of Specified Telecommunications Facilities, etc.) has been expanded for the J-LEO Project. The J-LEO Project uses the fund as a source to subsidize operators that provide direct satellite communications services using the LEO satellite constellations operated and managed in Japan. The subsidies are provided for the development of satellites and ground equipment necessary for the construction of satellite constellations.

　We are pleased to announce that we have decided to provide the subsidies to a subsidized entity (a fund establishment corporation), which will manage the fund for the J-LEO Project.

2. Subsidized entity (fund establishment corporation)

　CIAJ, a subsidized entity of the Digital Infrastructure Development Fund, submitted an application for the Project on January 7, 2026. The application was reviewed by an evaluation committee consisting of external experts, which decided to select CIAJ as the subsidized entity for the J-LEO Project.

3. Public solicitation for indirectly subsidized entities

　A public solicitation of indirectly subsidized entities that implement the J-LEO Project will be conducted by CIAJ as soon as preparations are complete. Information regarding the public solicitation will also be announced on the MIC website.