KT SAT participates in 'Satellite Asia'... Showcasing Multi-Orbit Capabilities

KT SAT announced on the 9th that it participated in ‘Satellite Asia 2023,’ the largest satellite communications exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region. Satellite Asia is a satellite communications exhibition held as part of the ‘Asia Tech x Singapore (AT x SG)’ event, which has been ongoing in Singapore for three days since the 7th.

This year, KT SAT set its main management direction as ‘establishing a foundation as a Multi-Orbit business operator’ and has been promoting various activities accordingly. At this exhibition, the company shared its achievements and future plans with global operators and customers, particularly showcasing Mangata Networks’ medium Earth orbit satellite service as a key exhibit.

KT SAT Satellite Asia Exhibition Booth
Photo by KT SAT

Mangata Networks, a US-based satellite communications startup, is a company that builds a medium Earth orbit constellation to provide communication services worldwide. Since investing in Mangata Networks in January last year, KT SAT also signed a capacity contract for the medium Earth orbit satellite network this year. The medium Earth orbit satellite network secured through the partnership with Mangata Networks is one of the important resources for advancing the Multi-Orbit business.

KT SAT plans to secure a Multi-Orbit network by integrating its own geostationary satellites with Mangata Networks’ medium Earth orbit satellite network and respond to future customer needs. The target service areas through the capacity contract include major Southeast Asian and South Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and India, with the expected service launch in the first half of 2026.

Additionally, KT SAT introduced next-generation satellite solutions prepared as part of the Multi-Orbit satellite business at this exhibition, including Multi-beam terminals and Edge Cloud services.

Recently, the global market has seen the emergence of various types of satellite services, including non-geostationary orbit satellites alongside traditional geostationary satellites. In line with these satellite service trends, KT SAT plans to expand its satellite portfolio to include multi-orbit satellites such as medium Earth orbit and low Earth orbit, as well as digital technology-applied high-capacity geostationary HTS (High Throughput Satellite), and develop and provide integrated solutions accordingly.

The Multi-beam terminal being developed by KT SAT is compatible with satellites in multiple orbits regardless of their altitude. It includes all functions such as antenna and modem in a single terminal, and with added hybrid solution capabilities, it can provide integrated services not only for satellite networks but also for terrestrial communication networks like LTE and 5G.

Edge Cloud is applied to satellite communications to provide low-latency and high-efficiency communication in areas with poor connectivity. Especially in emergency situations such as disasters, even if infrastructure is destroyed, it ensures continuous communication through redundancy and can be applied to multi-orbit satellite networks as well.

As a Multi-Orbit operator, KT SAT also plans to further expand its geostationary service areas. Indian satellite communications company Nelco expressed great expectations regarding this. In May, KT SAT secured its first order in the Indian market and established a connection with the end user, Nelco. Despite previous difficulties entering India due to regulations, KT SAT achieved results through a strategic partnership with Nelco. Through exhibition meetings, both companies agreed to strengthen cooperation in the geostationary service sector within the Indian market based on this contract.

Regarding the Multi-Orbit services showcased at this exhibition, Song Kyung-min, CEO of KT SAT, stated, “The success of future satellite businesses depends on how well diverse customer needs can be met. KT SAT regards 2023 as the inaugural year for its leap as a Multi-Orbit operator and will proactively secure multi-orbit satellite resources and solutions to lead the future global satellite market.”