KT-LIG Nex1, Low Earth Orbit Satellite Technology Development MOU... Joint System Development

Securing Dual-Use Civil-Military Low Earth Orbit Satellite Technology
Winning the Military Low Earth Orbit Tactical Satellite Project

KT and LIG Nex1 announced on the 9th that they have signed a business agreement to develop core technologies for dual-use low Earth orbit satellites for both civilian and military purposes.

KT and LIG Nex1 announced on the 9th that they have signed a business agreement to develop core technologies for dual-use low Earth orbit satellites. (From the fourth person on the left) Jong-sik Lee, Head of KT Future Network Research Institute, and Do-kyung Kim, Head of LIG Nex1 C4I Research Institute.

Currently, the low Earth orbit satellite communication industry is led by global companies such as SpaceX and OneWeb, and in this environment, overseas satellites are used. However, using foreign company satellites for defense communications, where security is critical, can cause problems, thus highlighting the need for a Korean-style low Earth orbit satellite.

Through this agreement, the two companies will jointly promote preliminary research on 6G low Earth orbit satellite communication systems and quantum cryptography communication. This will secure core technologies for dual-use low Earth orbit satellites and plan joint responses to win various defense communication satellite projects, including future military low Earth orbit tactical satellite projects.

First, the two companies will jointly develop a 6G satellite communication system simulator to be used in designing low Earth orbit satellite constellations. In the simulator development, KT will be responsible for the 6G NTN (Non-Terrestrial Network) base station part, conducting performance analysis and requirement verification. LIG Nex1 will be responsible for the low Earth orbit satellite part and satellite communication section.

To strengthen communication security, KT’s wireless quantum cryptography communication technology and LIG Nex1’s ultra-precise directional tracking technology will be utilized. The two companies plan to develop ultra-long-distance wireless quantum cryptography communication technology to be used in future military mobile tactical network projects and the advancement of satellite cryptographic systems.

Lee Jong-sik, Director (Executive Vice President) of KT Future Network Research Institute, stated, "Through this cooperation, we will extend 6G technology not only to terrestrial networks but also to satellite communications, showing the evolutionary direction of military communication systems."

Kim Do-kyung, Director of LIG Nex1 C4I Research Institute, said, "By combining LIG Nex1’s independent military communication capabilities with KT’s core commercial mobile communication technologies, we will do our best to build a faster and safer defense network."