▲ Scene from the CEATEC AWARD 2025 Award Ceremony
From left: Hideto Kawasaki, Parliamentary Secretary for Internal Affairs and Communications;
Masahiro Okitsu, President CEO of Sharp Corporation
Sharp has received the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Award at CEATEC AWARD 2025 for its 5G NTN–compatible LEO satellite communication user terminal currently under development*1.
CEATEC AWARD 2025 honors technologies, products, and services with outstanding innovation, selected by the CEATEC AWARD 2025 Selection Committee from among themes submitted by exhibitors at CEATEC 2025, which was held from Tuesday, October 14 to Friday, October 17, 2025, at Makuhari Messe (Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture).
The award ceremony took place on Tuesday, October 14, the opening day of CEATEC 2025, at The Palace Hotel Tokyo (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo). The award certificate and commemorative plaque were presented by Hideto Kawasaki, Parliamentary Secretary for Internal Affairs and Communications, to Masahiro Okitsu, President CEO of Sharp Corporation.
LEO satellite communications enable high-quality connectivity even in areas where cellular networks are difficult to access, and are drawing attention as an effective communication solution for maritime environments, mountainous regions, and disaster-affected areas. However, current satellite communication services employ proprietary communication methods by each operator, and the lack of standardized communication specifications remains one of the challenges to wider adoption.
The evaluation comments for the award-winning 5G NTN–compatible LEO satellite communication user terminal are as follows:
“Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications are expected to be utilized in areas where cellular networks are unavailable, such as at sea and in mountainous regions. There is strong demand not only domestically but also internationally, and user terminals are required to be compact, lightweight, and of high quality as Made-in-Japan products. Leveraging technologies and expertise cultivated through smartphone development, Sharp has achieved significant reductions in size and weight compared to existing LEO communication terminals. Demand is also high for compact, lightweight, and low-power terminals for satellites as well as for HAPS, drones, and aircraft. The terminal supports 5G NTN and aims for standardization of specifications beyond 2030. It has been highly evaluated as a technology that will support future social infrastructure, with great expectations for its potential to demonstrate Japan’s presence in next-generation communication standards.”
▲ Award Certificate and Commemorative Plaque for the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Award, CEATEC AWARD 2025
▲ Sharp Corporation members from left:
Masaaki Nakae, BU President, Mobile Communication BU;
Kohji Kusuda, Division Manager, Next-Generation Communication Business Promotion Division;
Takatoshi Hosaka, Supervisor, same department;
Masahiro Okitsu, President CEO;
Shigeru Kobayashi, Co-COO and Head of Smart Workplace Business Group
*1 A user terminal integrating LEO satellite communication antennas and modem functions. LEO stands for Low Earth Orbit.
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Sharp News Release:CEATEC 2025