Ministry of Science and ICT and Korea Aerospace Administration Select ETRI and Two Others as Lead Institutions for Low Earth Orbit Communication Satellite Development

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Aerospace Administration announced on April 27 that they have selected the lead research and development institutions for each of the three sub-projects under the 'Development of 6G International Standard-Based Low Earth Orbit Satellite Communication System' initiative.

For Subproject 1, which covers communication payloads and ground stations, the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) was selected. For Subproject 2, which focuses on terminal stations, Solid Inc. was chosen. For Subproject 3, which involves the main body and system integration, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) was designated as the lead research and development institution.

Virtual image of Hanwha Systems' 'Low Earth Orbit Satellite Communication Network' utilizing OneWeb's satellite constellation. Asia Economy DB

Given that close cooperation among the research institutions is essential for this project, ETRI has been appointed as the overall coordinating institution and will lead development collaboration with the institutions responsible for Subprojects 2 and 3.

Since last year, the Ministry of Science and ICT has been gradually preparing the regulatory framework for the introduction of low earth orbit satellite communication services in Korea. This has included revising the frequency allocation table, updating technical standards, and amending the Radio Waves Act Enforcement Decree, thereby completing the institutional groundwork for domestic use of low earth orbit satellite communication services.

With the introduction of low earth orbit satellite communication services, the communication environment in areas with poor existing internet connectivity is expected to improve significantly. Previously, low-speed satellite communication services were mainly available on ships and aircraft, but in the future, high-speed satellite communication services are expected to become much more accessible.

Yoon Youngbin, Administrator of the Korea Aerospace Administration, stated, "The Korea Aerospace Administration will actively work to strengthen private sector-led development capabilities and to foster an ecosystem for technology utilization," adding, "Going forward, we plan to focus our efforts on supporting private companies to secure global competitiveness."