SEOUL – KT SAT Co., the satellite service subsidiary of South Korea's telecom giant KT Corp., announced plans to introduce Starlink, a satellite internet service developed by U.S. space company SpaceX, in South Korea. The service will initially focus on the mobility industry, particularly marine communications.
According to Yonhap News Agency, The company highlighted the need for a stable communications network in marine communications, where ships often embark on voyages lasting at least six months. Starlink, known for providing high-speed, low-latency internet service globally using a network of low Earth orbit satellites, is expected to meet these requirements.
The launch of Starlink in South Korea is pending regulatory approval for Starlink Korea LLC, a Seoul-based subsidiary of SpaceX. While KT SAT did not provide a specific timeline for the service's introduction, the company plans to offer an enhanced service by integrating its maritime very small aperture terminal technology with Starlink. This upgraded service aims to cater to over 2,000 ships owned by global companies within three years.