Content Transmission to All Smartphones Accessing Same Satellite Frequency Now Possible

KT SAT has achieved the world's first successful satellite 5G-SAT technology test, enabling data exchange by linking KT's 5G network with the Mugunghwa-6 satellite located approximately 36,000 kilometers above the equator. This result came from collaboration between KT SAT and KT Convergence Technology Institute to expand 5G coverage.
In this test, KT SAT, together with KT Convergence Technology Institute, implemented ▲satellite 5G hybrid transmission ▲5G edge cloud media technology utilizing satellite communication backhaul links.

Satellite 5G hybrid transmission is a technology that enables highly reliable data communication compared to existing 5G services by utilizing communication protocols that integrate completely different networks into one.

The core of this technology is the satellite 5G hybrid router jointly developed by KT Convergence Technology Institute and KT SAT, which allows 5G terminals connected to devices to simultaneously transmit and receive various data from 5G networks and satellites, or utilize each path individually.

Using this technology, KT SAT created a scenario where 5G is forcibly disconnected and successfully tested maintaining normal service using only the Mugunghwa-6 satellite without 5G network coverage.

Considering situations where 5G-based automated agricultural machinery or vehicles move out of 5G coverage areas or networks are disrupted due to disasters and emergencies, the satellite 5G hybrid transmission technology was designed to continuously ensure network connectivity.

KT SAT currently operates five satellites: Mugunghwa-5, 5A, 6, 7, and KOREASAT-8. The coverage of KT SAT's five communication satellites reaches approximately 60% of Earth's total surface area (14.39 million square kilometers).

5G edge cloud media transmission using satellite communication backhaul is a technology that combines CDN (Content Delivery Network) video transmission services provided through 5G edge cloud with satellite communications.

5G edge cloud is a virtual data center that maximizes 5G's ultra-low latency by processing data generated from user terminals as close as possible to the source.

Using this technology, KT SAT successfully transmitted real-time streaming data from the KT SAT Geumsan Satellite Center and camera relay video via Mugunghwa-6 satellite to the 5G edge cloud at the Woomidongnk KT Research and Development Center, achieving seamless transmission to multiple 5G terminals.

Conventional satellite communication technology can transmit HD-quality video through only one smartphone using a fixed frequency resource (bandwidth), whereas this technology enables simultaneous content transmission to all terminals connected to the 5G edge cloud using the same resources.

Satellite communication has been limited by restricted frequency bandwidth and high costs compared to other communication technologies, with satellite broadcasting relay services primarily used by broadcasters and large content providers.

KT SAT expects that once these two technologies demonstrated in this test are commercialized, not only will relatively lower-speed satellite communication be able to transmit data faster and without interruption, but many users in countries with poor communication environments will also be able to access higher-quality content.

KT SAT's satellite 5G research goal is to establish technology linking satellites and 5G as a global standard, achieving complete interoperability between 5G NR (New Radio) and satellite communications.

Satellite 5G has been one of the research topics under Release 16 of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) since 2018, and KT SAT plans to present these test results to 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) in the first half of 2020 in collaboration with KT Convergence Technology Institute.

Han Won-sik, CEO of KT SAT, stated, "Technology linking satellites and 5G will significantly contribute to creating a communication environment without regional disparities and in disaster and emergency communications and content markets where seamless communication is crucial," adding, "Through continuous technical exchanges with KT, we will achieve global technical standardization and advance to a level where we can provide actual services to customers."