Starlink Launch Set for South Korea This Year Following Legal Updates

S Korea-Starlink service

SEOUL, April 27 (Yonhap) — The Ministry of Science stated on Sunday that SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service will likely become accessible in South Korea later this year after amendments were made to the Radio Wave Act.

In May 2023, Starlink Korea LLC submitted an application to the Ministry of Science and ICT for permission to establish a cross-border supply agreement. This step was taken with the aim of launching their low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite-based internet service in the region.

The ministry stated that this month the government updated the relevant rules regarding Starlink's utilization of local frequencies.

"Starlink Korea has submitted its business plans for approval, and the Telecommunications Policy Bureau is currently assessing their viability," stated Director General Kim Nam-cheol from the ministry’s radio policy department during a recent press conference.

Concerning the particular release schedule, Kim mentioned that the service might start as soon as June or at some point later this year.

OneWeb, Starlink’s competitor based in Britain, is likewise looking into ways to provide its LEO satellite internet service in Asia's fourth-biggest economic market, he mentioned additionally.

Starlink delivers rapid, minimal-delay web access globally using a network of satellites in low Earth orbit.

According to South Korean legislation, international businesses are required to enter into a supply contract with a domestic telecom provider before they can launch their communication network services within the country.

If implemented, LEO satellite communications will provide high-speed internet access to areas that have historically suffered from limited connectivity. Additionally, these services will enhance internet speeds for vessels and airplanes, which typically rely on slow satellite internet connections, according to a statement released by the ministry.

"Specifically, the maritime sector is poised to experience substantial benefits. Seamen embarking on lengthy journeys will now have access to OTT media services and video calls, which represents a significant enhancement in both their well-being and communication capabilities," the report stated.

In an effort to catch up with early entrants, South Korea declared its intentions earlier this year to deploy two domestically produced LEO satellites utilizing sixth-generation (6G) communication network technology by the year 2030.

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, which circle the Earth at altitudes ranging from 300 to 1,500 kilometers, offer high-speed, low-latency communication due to their closeness to our planet when contrasted with geostationary orbit satellites.

On Friday, the government identified three major entities—the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), telecoms gear producer SOLiD, and Korea Aerospace Industries Co. (KAI), which is the country’s only aircraft manufacturer—as crucial players in the development of a homegrown 6G-driven LEO satellite communication network.

"By 2030, we plan to deploy two domestically produced LEO satellites using our indigenous space rocket called Nuri," Kim stated.

The government intends to allocate a sum of 320 billion won ($234 million) across six years until 2030 for this developmental initiative, expecting the worldwide LEO satellite internet services sector to expand to 740 trillion won by 2040.

kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr

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