[Space Phone Debut] The 'Space Phone' That Can't Use "No Signal Due to No Base Station" as an Excuse Is Coming

320,000 Base Stations Not Needed for 'Uju Phone'
Starlink Launches 'Direct to Cell' Service
Low Earth Orbit Satellite Communication, Essential Infrastructure for 6G Era
Domestic Market Entry 'Imminent'... Government "Under Review"

Low Earth orbit satellites, which will shake up the global telecommunications market, are set to provide not only internet but also 'mobile phone' services. SpaceX, a private space company led by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, recently launched six Starlink satellites aimed at connecting mobile phones directly to satellites. Low Earth orbit satellite communication enables smooth service not only in internet shadow areas but also in aviation and maritime regions. It is also expected to complement the shortcomings of terrestrial communication by reducing the enormous costs involved in building infrastructure such as communication optical cables and base stations. Industry insiders believe that satellite communication will demonstrate its power more in the upcoming 6G era than in the already densely built 5G networks. With the commercialization of 6G, the era of the 'space phone' will also begin.

Terrestrial Base Stations Become 'Useless'

Earlier this year, SpaceX launched six satellites into low Earth orbit for the first time to provide mobile phone connection services. Named 'Direct to Cell' because it connects directly to mobile phones without separate devices such as terminals, the service plans to start with text messaging and eventually enable calls and browsing. Through the Direct to Cell service, SpaceX will officially enter the B2C (business-to-consumer) market targeting general consumers worldwide.

The most significant change when connecting mobile phones directly to satellites will be the terrestrial communication networks. Mobile carriers install base stations in various regions to provide communication services, but if connected directly to satellites, base stations will no longer be necessary. According to the Ministry of Science and ICT, as of the end of November last year, the three domestic mobile carriers had installed 321,754 base stations nationwide. Once space phones are commercialized, not only mobile carriers but also equipment companies will come under their influence.

Even if Starlink provides not only internet but also satellite phone services in Korea, the consensus is that the impact on the domestic B2C market is minimal at this point. This is because wired and wireless terrestrial communication networks already cover more than 90% of the national territory densely, and internet penetration is high, resulting in low immediate demand. Unless bundled products with mobile carriers are offered, terrestrial communication still holds an advantage in terms of user price competitiveness. Additionally, Starlink plans to provide LTE (4G) service, which is slower than 5G, so users can use the Direct to Cell function with their existing phones without purchasing or upgrading to new ones.

The principle behind Starlink's 'Direct to Cell (D2C)' implementation. Recently, Starlink launched the 'Direct to Cell' service, where low Earth orbit satellites communicate directly with mobile phones without passing through ground base stations. Through this, they aim to provide voice calls, data, and Internet of Things (IoT) services by 2025. [Source=Starlink website]

Choi Kyung-il, Executive Vice President and Head of Technology at KT SAT, stated, "Domestic mobile carriers, which have built and are servicing ultra-high-speed internet networks for almost all citizens, will not feel the influence of satellite internet provided by Starlink as significant." He added, "(In the case of home internet) the relatively high cost and the inconvenience of having to install satellite terminals in places with a clear view of the sky could be perceived as drawbacks." He also explained, "Direct to Cell does not follow the standards of mobile communication systems, and due to current technical limitations, it is expected to handle only simple text messages or very slow data and voice communications."

However, from a long-term perspective, the potential of low Earth orbit satellite communication is limitless. Satellite communication is essential to usher in the cutting-edge 6G era.

Starlink provides home internet services using low Earth orbit satellites. Users need to install an antenna capable of transmitting and receiving satellite signals on their rooftops. The average download speed for home service ranges from 20 to 100 Mbps, and the upload speed is between 5 and 15 Mbps, which is not significantly inferior compared to typical terrestrial communications. [Source: Starlink website]

The 6G era is said to open a 'dream world' where data transmission speeds are 50 times faster than 5G. It will enable the realization of innovative technologies requiring precise control, such as artificial intelligence (AI), extended reality (XR), urban air mobility (UAM), and autonomous vehicles. This is why global companies are fiercely competing to dominate the low Earth orbit satellite communication market. Musk aims to launch up to 42,000 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit to provide communication services worldwide. Low Earth orbit satellite communication overcomes the temporal and spatial limitations of terrestrial communication, which requires installing communication cables and base stations in each area, enabling the acquisition of vast data across borders.

When Will Starlink Enter the Korean Market?

Starlink has already established a Korean subsidiary last year and is knocking on the door of the domestic market. The Starlink Korea subsidiary completed registration as a telecommunications service provider in May last year. Starlink is promoting its domestic business using gateway facilities located in Japan and is undergoing government approval procedures for this. A Ministry of Science and ICT official stated, "We are reviewing frequency interference and user protection measures." Starlink has partnered with mobile carriers including KT SAT, a satellite service affiliate of KT, SK Telink, a subsidiary of SK Telecom, and LG Uplus to facilitate its domestic business.

Once government approval is granted, the three telecom companies will act as Starlink's domestic reseller partners. They are expected to handle customer recruitment and management in the B2B (business-to-business) market. The first target is maritime areas where access to terrestrial communication networks is difficult. KT SAT and SK Telink have been providing essential services in maritime communication fields such as ship operations using geostationary satellites. Adding low Earth orbit satellite communication services characterized by low latency and high speed will allow sailors not only to enjoy digital leisure activities but also to adopt various maritime solutions.

Executive Vice President Choi forecasted, "In the future, low Earth orbit satellite communication will play an important role in the 6G era, where all things are connected, especially in places where terrestrial networks cannot reach."