Satellite firm Globalstar is installing new antennas at a ground station site in Japan.

The Apple-backed company last week announced construction had commenced on additional gateway infrastructure at its existing ground station in Bihoro, a town on Japan’s northern Hokkaido island.

The expansion is part of a wider global program to build out additional tracking antennas to support both its existing constellation and the infrastructure necessary to support its third-generation C-3 mobile satellite system.

Globalstar previously purchased land in Bihoro to establish a ground station to serve the entire region. The first installation was commissioned in June 2024.

“Asia joins the growing chorus of international construction as Globalstar expands its footprint in Japan to support its third-generation mobile satellite system,” said L. Barbee Ponder, general counsel and VP of regulatory affairs for Globalstar. “With today’s announcement, Globalstar has the additional property necessary to support future expansion in Japan, including the infrastructure for our C-3 System – the most advanced mobile satellite system ever. We especially value our successful long-term relationship with Japan and our important partnership with IPmotion.”

Hiroshi Ando, CEO of IPmotion and Globalstar Japan, added: “We wholeheartedly welcome Globalstar’s expansion of its Bihoro ground station, which demonstrates a strong commitment to the satellite communications market in Japan. Acquiring the adjacent land was critical to allow the infrastructure needed to support the C-3 satellite system.”

Japanese telecoms firm IPmotion, which is part of media production firm Imagica Group, has a joint venture in Japan with Globalstar and built the Bihoro satellite gateway site.

Launched in 1991 as a joint venture of Loral Corporation and Qualcomm, Globalstar's first-generation constellation consists of 48 LEO satellites, with an additional four satellites in orbit as spares, while its second-generation comprises 24 machines. The company operates 24 ground station sites globally.

Globalstar counts Apple as an investor, which uses the satellite firm's services to power some direct-to-cell services on its iPhones.

The satellite firm recently tapped Australian Edge data center firm DXN to deliver three prefabricated modules to Maui, Hawaii, by the end of 2025.

Globalstar recently installed a new antenna at its ground station site in Clifton, Texas. The company said it was the first of 90 new installations planned across 35 ground stations spanning 25 countries and territories.

The company also recently announced a new agreement with Telecom Castilla-La Mancha (Telecom CLM) to expand the Alcazar Teleport in Castilla La Mancha, Spain, with additional ground station antennas and associated infrastructure to support the C-3 System. Globalstar will install three new tracking antennas and supporting infrastructure, doubling its footprint at the site.