Rikei Corporation (headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Satoru Isaka; hereinafter “Rikei”) and OEC Co. Ltd. (headquarters: Oita-shi, Oita; President & CEO: Takeshi Kato; hereinafter “OEC”) have signed an agreement on a strategic business alliance aiming at creating and developing businesses and providing mutual technical support in space-related businesses, including low earth orbit satellites and space VR (virtual reality), and making proposal for tourism promotion, disaster prevention and other regional issues by utilizing long-distance wireless LAN (FWA: fixed wireless access).

Background and Details of the Business Alliance

In April 2020, Oita Prefecture signed a partnership with Virgin Orbit Holdings, Inc. (*1) to utilize Oita Airport as a spaceport.

Oita Airport aims to launch a small satellite in 2022 by adopting a “horizontal” method, in which an aircraft lifts off a satellite-loaded rocket from the airport, suspending it on its wing, and launches the rocket in mid-air, rather than the conventional “vertical” method, in which a rocket is launched from a launch site toward the sky.

*1 Virgin Orbit: A U.S. company that launches satellites
 
Rikei has engaged in the satellite communications-related business for more than 30 years, designing and building the systems and providing the equipment. Moreover, the company has constructed disaster-prevention network systems utilizing long-distance wireless LAN (FWA) and participated in a disaster response test utilizing drones.
In recent years, Rikei has created content that can simulate fire evacuation methods using VR, and it is also being used by fire departments.

OEC has a strong customer base in Oita Prefecture, and is expanding nationwide with its system integration capabilities to address public and government issues.
Moreover, the company has the know-how on collection, accumulation, storage, and utilization of various kinds of data. The company has also participated in Oita Space Future Center (*2) since its foundation and contributed to solutions of regional issues and creation of businesses through utilization of the satellite data.

*2 Oita Space Future Center: A general incorporated association working on creation of space-related industries/services and personnel development
 
Through this partnership, the two companies will proactively create low orbit satellite and other space-related business in general and make proposals for the regional issues, such as disaster prevention, by using long-distance wireless LAN (FWA).
Moreover, the two companies will continue to promote activities with a view to the launch of new joint projects aimed at promoting tourism by effectively utilizing the VR content.
 

Division of roles

■Rikei

• Design and construction of satellite communication systems and acquisition of ground data (River conditions, landslide disasters, etc.) using drones
• Provision of space-related VR content
• Provision of measures for remote islands and disaster-prevention systems using long-distance wireless LAN (FWA)

 
■OEC

• Construction of data infrastructure to combine ground data and satellite data
• Secondary use of data through analysis (predictive maintenance to prevent landslide, river flood and other disasters, watching over aged people, etc.)
• Implementation and operation of Rikei’s solutions in the region
• Provision of solutions to the regional issues that lie beyond FWA

About OEC Co. Ltd.

OEC Co. Ltd. provides a wide range of public and private solutions through cloud services to customers in Oita Prefecture and throughout Japan. We are also working on digital transformation (DX) proposals, AI, IoT, drones, and data analysis. We will contribute to people, society, and the future so that we can be resilient to change, provide new value to our customers, and earn even more trust.

About Rikei Corporation

Since its establishment in 1957 as a solution vendor in the IT and electronics industries, Rikei Corporation has provided a variety of solutions ranging from systems to networks, VR/AR contents, electronic materials and electronic devices.

Rikei proposes solutions that utilize cutting-edge technologies and advanced products from Japan and overseas, and contributes to business development such as improving efficiency of operations and profits of customers.

*Product and company names mentioned herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.