e5 Lab

October-14,2021

News Release

e5 Lab, MOL and SoftBank Start Joint Studies
for Next-generation Maritime High-speed
Satellite Communications
Companies promote Introduction of maritime broadband
communications on vessels and digitalization of maritime
shipping industry

TOKYO— e5 Lab, Inc. (“e5 Lab”), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (“MOL”) and SoftBank
Corp. (“SoftBank”), today announced they signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) on the use of a next-generation high-speed communication satellites, offered byUK-based OneWeb Ltd. (“OneWeb”), to provide maritime broadband communications
on vessels at sea. SoftBank and OneWeb are currently collaborating on thedevelopment of the OneWeb’s satellite communication services.
e5 Lab, MOL and SoftBank will promote the “introduction of maritime broadband
communications and secure, safe, and “efficient digitalization of the maritime shipping
industry“ by using OneWeb’s next-generation high-speed satellite communication
service at sea, where communication infrastructure lags far behind what is available onland.
The three companies are planning to launch the following initiatives to introduce
maritime broadband communication and digitalization.
・Study of various use cases related to digitalization of marine transportation (Period:October 2021 ~ September 2023)
Study various use cases and effects of introductions related to the digitalization ofmarine transportation, which will be realized by introducing the satellite broadband
communications.
・Demonstration of satellite communication services by OneWeb (Period: April 2022 ~March 2023)
Conduct demonstrations using of OneWeb satellite communication services at sea by
installing OneWeb’s satellite antennas on “Sunflower” ferries, which are operated by an
MOL subsidiary.
MOL, SoftBank, and e5 Lab will leverage their varied technological expertise andknowledge and foster the sustainable growth of the maritime shipping industry by using
Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) solutions such as next-generation communication
satellites and stratospheric communication platforms.

©2021 e5 Lab.Inc.

1e5 Lab

October-14,2021

News Release

About MOL
MOL (traded on the 1st section of Tokyo Stock Exchange: 9104) is a multimodal
corporate group, developing various social infrastructure businesses such as offshore
and wind power energy, centered on ocean shipping business activities including thededicated vessels and tankers that carry raw materials and fuels, car carriers, andcontainerships that carry various products. It meets the challenge of responding tochanging social needs, including environmental conservation, through theadvancement of technologies and services. It contributes to worldwide economic
growth with the world’s largest fleet, experience and technologies accumulated in 130plus years of history, and a challenging spirit aiming to create new values.
Website: https://www.mol.co.jp/en/index.html
About SoftBank
Guided by the SoftBank Group’s corporate philosophy, “Information Revolution –Happiness for everyone,” SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) combines
telecommunications services with cutting-edge technologies to create and operate newbusinesses. SoftBank Corp. serves more than 47 million mobile consumer andenterprise subscribers in Japan, and as part of its “Beyond Carrier” strategy, isredefining industries by leveraging its unique strengths as a network operator to fully
harness the power of 5G, big data, AI, IoT, robotics and other key technologies. To
learn more, please visit www.softbank.jp/en/©2021 e5 Lab.Inc.

2e5 Lab

October-14,2021

News Release

About OneWeb
OneWeb was established with the vision of bridging the digital divide with its ownnetworks. In October 2020, it was acquired by the U.K. government and Bharti Group,
and in 2021 raised funds from SoftBank Group Corp., Eutelsat, and Hughes Network
Group. It offers satellite communication service to government agencies, enterprises,
and end users with global communication networks provided from outer space. To offer
high-speed high-bandwidth and low delay communication service at affordable prices,
OneWeb maintains ground stations and develops products, and realizes constellation
by low-orbit satellite, contributing to growth of IoT and development of 5G.
Website: http://www.oneweb.world

About e5 Lab
A provider of ocean shipping solutions based on electrification anddigitalization. It established Marindows Inc. with the objective ofdeveloping and spreading the world’s first maritime OS “Marindows”
in March 2021. e5 Lab leverages technology and know-how networks
related to electrically powered vessels to solve issues facing theshipping industry and social infrastructure in Japan, contributing tosustainable growth of the shipping industry.
e5 Lab delivers five kinds of e-value ("Electrification," "Environment,""Efficiency," "Economics," and "Evolution").
▼ Website▼ Marindows Inc’s Website

http://e5ship.com

https://www.marindows.com/

For further information, please contact:project@e5ship.com©2021 e5 Lab.Inc.

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