Sky Perfect JSAT, one of the biggest global operators, is banking on a multi-faceted approach to grow its business over the next few years. SKY Perfect JSAT President & CEO Eiichi Yonekura spoke with Via Satellite Editors Rachel Jewett and Mark Holmes for a “Live in the Booth” interview during SATShow Week.

The company’s move further into the Earth Observation (EO) arena is an example of this. Sky Perfect JSAT has decided its best approach is to own EO satellite assets and move beyond being just a distribution partner to customers, with last year’s order of a satellite constellation from Planet. Yonekura hailed the move and called it a “big step,” saying that by having direct access to customers, it can play a critical role, particularly in government and mission critical use cases.

“This is important as [it] means we have made the evolution from a communications provider to a space-based data and solutions company,” said Yonekura.

Yonekura also spoke about the importance of Sky Perfect JSAT investing in the Japanese ecosystem and startups. The company will be investing 10 billion Japanese yen ($63 million) into startups. However, Yonekura was keen to point out that this goal of this was less monetary, and more finding future partners.

“Our purpose here isn’t really capital gains. We want to find companies we can work with and use their technology and products (in the future). Space is a business market now, not just an academic pursuit. We have invested in several startup companies,” he said.

Via Satellite editors Rachel Jewett and Mark Holmes interviewed Yonekura as part of the “Live in the Booth” series during SATShow Week on March 24.