This upgraded satellite ground network system by JAXA (formerly NASDA) will allow tracking coverage to be expanded worldwide while also reducing operational costs. Mitsubishi Electric was chosen as the contractor for this project by JAXA (then NASDA) in 1998.

The new ground network configuration is composed of the Tsukuba Control Center and seven other stations worldwide. All of the stations are connected to each other via a wide-area network (WAN), and each earth station is run unmanned.