SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, is on the brink of launching its satellite internet service, Starlink, in South Korea. The company is nearing a crucial agreement on “technical standards,” a vital step for registering Starlink as a telecommunications service provider in the country.
According to industry insiders, the South Korean government and SpaceX’s local subsidiary, Starlink Korea, are close to finalizing this agreement. A Ministry of Science and ICT representative announced, “We have made 90% progress on the technical standards response, and the remaining parts are not significantly difficult.” These technical standards are essential for preventing interference in frequency bands and ensuring a stable and reliable service for users.
SpaceX established its South Korean subsidiary, Starlink Korea, last March to streamline domestic services. Since then, the company has applied for registration as a telecommunications provider and is currently undergoing review by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
The technical standards review involves drafting regulations, collecting feedback from Starlink Korea, and finalizing the necessary protocols. Although delays occurred due to Starlink Korea’s slow responses, the process is now nearing completion, bringing the company closer to launching its services in the South Korean market.
Once the telecommunications registration is approved, SpaceX will apply for cross-border supply authorization through a separate entity. This step is essential for officially launching Starlink services across South Korea.
Starlink has already formed partnerships with major domestic telecommunications companies, including SK Telecom, KT SAT, and LG Uplus. These collaborations aim to provide business-to-business (B2B) services in regions where traditional mobile networks are less effective, such as ships and airplanes.
A KT SAT representative commented, “We are waiting for negotiations between the government and Starlink. Since South Korea has a well-developed terrestrial network, Starlink initially targets maritime and shipping services.”
SpaceX’s long-term goal is to complete the construction of a global satellite internet network with 12,000 Starlink satellites by 2027. While satellite internet services have already been launched in Japan, Starlink’s rollout in South Korea has been delayed. The company initially planned to start services in 2023 but has now changed its status to “service date unknown.”
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