Lawson and Post Offices to Become "Drone Bases"; Starlink to Provide Connectivity as KDDI Rapidly Builds Drone Infrastructure

Drone bases on post offices and Lawson stores

KDDI Smart Drone wants to build a national network of drone bases. The bases will be on post office rooftops and at Lawson convenience stores. The drones will do jobs that people do now, such as delivering goods, watching over local areas, checking old infrastructure like bridges and pipes, and helping after disasters. KDDI calls this idea "AI labor in the sky."

Key facts

• KDDI Smart Drone has drone ports at 33 sites across Japan.
• In June 2026, a drone port opened on a Lawson store lot in Ikeda, Osaka. It was the first one at a Lawson store.
• Japan Post has about 24,000 post offices that KDDI can use.
• In a test in September 2026, drones flew from a post office roof in Suzu, Ishikawa, and a nearby fire station.
• In an earthquake test on October 7, two operators in Tokyo flew four drones at once. The drones took off about 15 minutes after the quake was simulated.

Why Starlink matters

Drones usually need a radio signal to be flown from far away. In May 2026, KDDI tested flying drones directly through Starlink, a satellite internet service from SpaceX. The test worked even outside normal cell coverage. KDDI aims to start this service in 2027.

Why this matters

Drones could reach mountain villages much faster than trucks, and TV crews could see disaster areas in about 10 minutes instead of an hour by helicopter. But the cost is still high. Setting flight routes takes time and money. The company says the cost per flight is falling, and one person flying many drones could cut costs more. How well the business makes money will decide how fast drones spread.

What to watch

• Whether the Starlink-based service starts in 2027 as planned.
• How many post offices and Lawson stores become drone ports.
• Whether one operator can safely fly several drones at once in real use.
• Whether drone delivery routes can make a profit.