Starlink Mobile Roaming: Which Phones Work in Japan

By John Maximus · Published 3 October 2026
Reported from named sources and checked against the publishers linked in this article. Corrections: editorial and corrections policy.

Globe Telecom Inc., the Philippine mobile operator, has turned on Starlink Mobile roaming in Japan for its subscribers, working with the Japanese carrier KDDI Corp. The activation was reported by thechronicle.com.ph on 30 September 2026 and by Philstar.com on 2 October, with Globe describing the move in an advisory as roaming support for Filipino travellers.

Key facts

• The product is called GoRoam Japan. Both outlets say it bundles ordinary terrestrial roaming with satellite connectivity so subscribers stay reachable as they move between covered areas and dead zones.
• Pricing starts at P400 for seven days, including 2GB of all-access data, 1GB of satellite data and 50 satellite texts to all networks, according to both reports.
• Coverage is limited in scope: thechronicle.com.ph says customers can use select apps for messaging, navigation and other communication needs where conventional mobile coverage may be limited.
• The arrangement runs both ways. thechronicle.com.ph reports that the Globe launch follows a KDDI announcement letting KDDI customers use the Globe Starlink service when they travel to the Philippines.
• No extra hardware is involved. thechronicle.com.ph says Starlink Mobile is designed to connect compatible phones directly to satellites without a special device or a separate satellite terminal.

Why it matters

This is satellite phone connectivity being sold as a roaming product rather than as a rural fix at home. Eric Tanbauco, head of Globe’s consumer mobile business, said the company’s objective in these efforts is to eliminate dead spots, Philstar.com reports, and that extending the operator’s Starlink work into international access is the next step in that evolution.

For readers tracking direct-to-device generally, the commercial question is how much a satellite allowance costs and what it actually does once you are abroad — a separate matter from how direct-to-device networks compare on measured performance. On that, the two reports offer allowances and app categories, not speeds.

Which phones qualify

The two sources describe handset requirements slightly differently. Philstar.com says compatibility varies by manufacturer and model, but that a phone must have LTE capability to link to a satellite. thechronicle.com.ph sets a narrower list: a compatible LTE or 5G Android or Harmony device.

thechronicle.com.ph adds three further conditions: an active, applicable GoRoam Japan promo; mobile data and data roaming switched on; and a clear, unobstructed view of the sky for best coverage. Neither report names a single qualifying handset model, and neither mentions iPhones either way.

What KDDI says it is building

KDDI executive officer Makoto Kadowaki framed the tie-up as a step toward borderless coverage. “Our goal is to eliminate global cellular dead zones and deliver reliable connectivity, aiming for a world where if you can see the sky, you can connect anywhere,” he said in comments carried by thechronicle.com.ph.

Philstar.com reports Kadowaki’s view that, with direct-to-device connectivity arriving, the next battleground for telcos is how far and wide their satellites can reach consumers. Tanbauco said the partnership is about exploring how satellite-enabled connectivity could help overcome network boundaries and create a more seamless travel experience, according to both outlets.

Background: the Philippine launch came first

Starlink Mobile went live for Globe and TM customers in the Philippines before this international extension, thechronicle.com.ph says, and Philstar.com dates that domestic activation to June. Philstar.com reports that Globe activated the service at home to achieve nationwide coverage, having found it challenging to reach the remaining four percent of the population living in far-flung areas.

The Japan step builds on that base, and Globe switched the service on in Japan through KDDI as its first destination for the feature. Globe publishes its own plans and pricing for the service at glbe.com.ph/StarlinkRoaming.

What the reports do not say

Neither source lists the specific apps that work over satellite, nor what happens once the 1GB satellite allowance or the 50 satellite texts are used up. Neither gives satellite speeds, latency, or the number of Globe subscribers expected to buy the promo.

There is also no African or Zimbabwean element in either report: both deal strictly with Philippine subscribers in Japan and Japanese subscribers in the Philippines. Readers in the region following where Starlink’s phone and broadband services can legally operate should look instead at the regulatory questions around Starlink’s newest satellites in Africa, which these two reports do not touch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can Globe customers buy the GoRoam Japan promo?

According to thechronicle.com.ph, GoRoam Japan promos are sold through the GlobeOne app and GCash, with several options aimed at different travel needs. The outlet also points subscribers to Globe’s own plans-and-pricing page at glbe.com.ph/StarlinkRoaming.

Is Starlink Mobile the same product as Starlink home internet?

No. thechronicle.com.ph states that Starlink Mobile provides direct-to-device coverage for compatible phones and is distinct from Starlink internet, although the outlet says both services are delivered by the world’s largest satellite networks.

How significant is Globe’s Starlink Mobile launch within Asia?

Philstar.com reports that Globe is the first operator in Southeast Asia, and only the second in Asia, to offer Starlink Mobile. The same report says Globe activated the service in the Philippines in June.

Will the Globe–KDDI satellite roaming tie-up extend beyond Japan and the Philippines?

KDDI executive officer Makoto Kadowaki told thechronicle.com.ph that the two companies aim to serve travellers in both countries while progressively expanding these capabilities on a global scale. Neither source names any further country or date.