Korean ETA Drifting for 3 Years… Emphasizes Diverse Discussions on Investment Costs, etc.
Satellite Communication Forum Industry Leads Ahead of the 6G Era
Establishment of reusable launch vehicle technology and satellite mass production system
“Domestic low-orbit independent network must consider global service”

[Editor's Note] Recently, low-orbit satellites capable of providing ultra-high-speed Internet access services are attracting attention. In particular, in the 6G era, which is expected to be commercialized in 2030, a new standard that converges terrestrial networks and low-orbit satellite communication networks has emerged as an important technological requirement. As SpaceX is drastically lowering the cost of network construction through the development of reusable launch vehicles, bringing the realization of low-orbit satellite-based space Internet closer, it is urgent for Korea to foster the 6G satellite communication industry ecosystem before it is too late. The Satellite Communication Forum was formed to vitalize the industry by establishing national R&D policies at the center of this. Our magazine met with Kang Chung-gu, Executive Director of the Satellite Communication Forum, to discuss the future prospects for the satellite communications industry and our country's response measures going forward.

■ The main activities of the Satellite Communication Forum to open the 6G satellite communication era are:

The Satellite Communication Forum is a government-industry-academia-research cooperation platform to promote R&D in the field of 6G satellite communications based on low-orbit satellites and to vitalize the industry.

Since its launch in August 2021, there are currently 10 chair companies and 18 general companies participating as members. Just as the 5G Forum (now the 6G Forum) contributed greatly to introducing the world's first commercial 5G to Korea by supporting 5G standardization and demonstrating the first 5G service at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the Satellite Communication Forum aims to play a similar role in the satellite communications industry in the 6G era.

■ Why has interest shifted from geostationary satellites to low-orbit satellites, and what are the recent global industry trends?

Geostationary satellites have always provided stable communication links for weather observation, military, and defense purposes over specific regions from a location 36,000 km above the Earth. However, due to the long distance from the ground, transmission speeds are limited, quality is low, and usage fees are high, so low-orbit satellite communications were considered as an alternative to provide ultra-high-speed Internet at a level similar to terrestrial networks in terms of service.

Since Elon Musk's SpaceX succeeded in developing a reusable launch vehicle in 2015, launch costs have dropped by a factor of 10, enabling the construction of countless satellite constellations at low altitudes up to 500 km above the ground, making it possible to provide internet services with higher transmission speeds and lower latency.

As of 2023, SpaceX has launched more than 5,000 low-orbit satellites to implement a satellite communication network called Starlink, which is in service in 45 countries around the world. Starlink has been used in the Ukrainian War and has gained a high strategic status. In the future, it plans to launch up to 12,000 satellites to complete the satellite constellation, and new services that will be directly connected to smartphones are also being considered after 2023.

In addition, OneWeb, in which Hanwha Systems holds a 6% stake, is planning to provide full-scale global services in the second half of 2023. Amazon is aiming for commercialization in 2025 and is expected to provide 100% global services by 2029. China has also secured a constellation of 12,000 satellites. China is also pushing forward with a plan to build a constellation of 12,000 satellites to respond to SpaceX.

■ Is our country well prepared for the 6G satellite communications era?

Our government and industry have been discussing countermeasures and have been considering securing technology through research and development and creating an ecosystem as a priority. Nevertheless, it has not even passed the preliminary feasibility study and has been drifting for three years. Given the country's status as an ICT powerhouse and the world's largest exporter of smartphones, the sense of crisis is growing even more acute.

Whether it is a test network or a commercial network, international registration for securing frequencies and orbits must be done first in order to build a network. However, in Korea, there is no relevant international registration at all, and it is very worrisome that this response is being delayed due to the delay in the preliminary feasibility study.

In order to build a domestic independent low-orbit satellite communication network, huge capital, technology, and a global customer base are required. Considering this, a low-orbit satellite communication industry strategy unique to Korea is urgently needed to overcome the very unfavorable situation from the start.

As mentioned above, the low-orbit satellite communication service market will be led by several foreign companies, and most countries, including Korea, are likely to be dependent on these services. Considering the national strategic status and industrial significance of the low-orbit satellite network in the 6G era, an active national response will be necessary.

Our country has developed and operated various satellites so far, and has a certain degree of independent satellite and payload manufacturing technology, but for low-orbit satellites, it is urgent to establish a mass production system that can efficiently manufacture a large number of satellites. To this end, we must secure the ability to supply verified materials and parts and to enter overseas markets.

This will enable us to foster a new private-led industrial ecosystem in the 6G satellite communications era. In particular, given that our country has secured global competitiveness in the satellite antenna and smartphone markets, it is expected that there will be opportunities to foster new strong companies in the future.

■ From securing orbits and frequencies to research and development for building an independent satellite network, what direction do you think should be taken, government-led or private-led?

Currently, there are questions about the effectiveness of large-scale investment in building a satellite network. In particular, there is skepticism about the necessity of building a low-orbit satellite communication network in Korea, which already has the world's best terrestrial network.

However, when we remember that a constellation of hundreds to thousands of low-orbit satellites will form one gigantic communications network covering the entire world, this should be seen as both an opportunity and the beginning of a challenge to expand our market to the entire world.

First of all, there has been no specific discussion on the subject and method of building a domestic independent satellite network. The government is establishing a plan to promote such discussions by forming a consultative body. Since competition with overseas operators must also be considered, it is necessary to have a multifaceted discussion on the investment cost, profitability, and utilization method for future government- or private-led network construction.

In addition, frequency and orbital acquisition for network construction must be considered. Since satellite network construction requires enormous investment, it is important to consider whether the government or the private sector will take the lead. If private investment is to be induced, securing government demand may be considered, but it is skeptical from a mid- to long-term investment perspective to approach it by considering only limited domestic demand. Therefore, in the case of domestic independent low-orbit satellite network construction, global service must be kept in mind. For this purpose, solidarity between countries can be considered, and in this case, the role of the government will also become very important.

Meanwhile, discussions are also underway to build a joint civilian-military network in conjunction with the hyper-connected system promoted by the military. In this case, we still need to consider who will be the main body of network construction, but the government-led international registration of satellite networks can be promoted quickly. While the scope of use and service requirements have not been determined, it is not clear which orbit and frequency to adopt, but considering the direction of technological development and the trends of most overseas operators, it is worthwhile to promote preemptive international registration centered on the Ku and Ka bands.

■ While major corporations in advanced countries are leading the low-orbit satellite communication industry, isn’t it too late for Korea, which has not even passed the ETA, to take the lead in technology?

At a time when commercial services by overseas operators have already begun, it is very difficult for our country to secure technological capabilities and pursue the market in the entire satellite industry.

However, our country is recognized in the global market for satellite antennas and some key components. In the mobile communications sector, we are also capable of supplying 5G equipment, and above all, we are in a unique position in mobile phone manufacturing.

In the 6G era, where smartphones can directly connect to satellites, this terrestrial mobile communication technology is expected to be an important foundation. If we secure low-orbit satellite-related technology on this foundation, the current crisis can become an opportunity at any time.

First, it is necessary to secure launch vehicle technology, which has a high entry barrier, and to develop satellites and payloads in parallel. In addition, it is essential for related material and component companies to secure their own verification history (heritage). To achieve these goals, it is urgent to develop and launch a test satellite that can demonstrate everything from component development to launch.

In addition to these components and systems aspects, a two-track strategy is needed that considers global services through independent network construction. As with the existing mobile communications industry, the service industry accounts for the largest portion of the satellite communications market, so we should be able to expand our industrial capabilities to global services through independent network construction.

Our country's independent low-orbit satellite communications require a grand vision and strategy to be used as the nerve network of our country's defense industry system exported to the world, and as a content delivery network that spreads the Korean spirit and culture like a spider web throughout the world.

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