Song Kyung-min KT SAT CEO "An Era of Watching OTT on Airplanes Will Come"

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Song Kyung-min, CEO of KT SAT, the only satellite communication operator in Korea, stated, "An era will come when people can watch online video services (OTT) even on airplanes or in the middle of the ocean using satellite communication technology," adding, "We will lead the satellite industry for the next 50 years."

At a press conference held on the 18th at the Geumsan Satellite Center in Chungnam, CEO Song said, "We will lead the 'New Space era,' where the private sector drives the satellite industry." He mentioned, "Consumption centered on OTT is increasing more and more. There will be demand to enjoy OTT services not only on the ground but also on airplanes and ships."

KT SAT plans to launch the 'Mugunghwa Satellite 6A' in 2024 and start services from 2025. The Mugunghwa Satellite 6A is a geostationary satellite flying at an altitude of 35,000 km at 116 degrees east longitude. KT SAT aims to enter the top five in Asia by targeting the Middle East, Mongolia, and the Arabian Sea with the launch of Mugunghwa 6A. They aspire to raise the global sales ratio to about 30% by 2025. Considering the current global sales ratio is around 19 billion KRW (12%), it is expected to expand to 47 billion KRW.

The Mugunghwa Satellite 6A will also play a key role in providing satellite 5G services. CEO Song explained, "The large capacity and variability of Mugunghwa Satellite 6A are suitable for accommodating the rapid traffic increase caused by 5G," adding, "We plan to finalize the payload and applied technologies this year, start satellite manufacturing in the first half of next year, and launch it in 2024." They will also expand the marine platform industry. CEO Song emphasized, "Previously, we only provided internet to ships, cargo vessels, and distant-water fishing boats, but going forward, we will integrate CCTV and IoT solutions to broaden the market base."

As demand for internet access on airplanes increases, they also plan to expand the in-flight connectivity (IFC) market. CEO Song said, "Although a few top companies currently dominate the IFC market, its growth potential is high, and we are planning to enter the market," adding, "We were in concrete discussions with domestic airlines about adoption, but these were halted due to the COVID-19 impact. We will resume discussions as soon as the aviation industry recovers."

Opened in 1970, the KT SAT Geumsan Satellite Center is Korea's first satellite communication earth station and has developed alongside the domestic telecommunications industry. Currently, KT SAT operates five satellites: Mugunghwa Satellites 5, 5A, 6, 7, and KOREASAT 8, covering about 60% of the Earth's total area (1,439,000 square kilometers).

The role of the 'satellite industry' has also changed over the 50 years. Until the 1990s, before the development of submarine cables, international calls and international broadcasting mainly used satellite traffic. However, as submarine cables totaling 1.3 million kilometers were laid under the oceans and terrestrial networks developed, reducing the need for satellites in hard-to-reach areas, the core of the satellite industry has transformed into GPS, weather forecasting, military communications, B2B businesses, and global export businesses operating in space, maritime, and aerial domains.

CEO Song said, "Previously, we provided communication services and focused on connection-centered businesses, but now we aim to grow the business centered on services and platforms," adding, "We will secure 30% of total sales from global sales."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.