'Unlimited Ultra-High-Speed Communication' Navigates Worldwide... KT SAT Targets Southeast Asia (Comprehensive)

Launch of Marine Satellite Communication Service Brand 'XWave'
Securing 40% Coverage of Marine Data Demand
Smartship Emergence... Increasing Infrastructure Demand

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] KT is strengthening its communication infrastructure strategy for ships through its satellite communication subsidiary. The plan aims to fill communication gaps even in the distant seas, previously classified as 'communication blind spots' where terrestrial 5G services do not reach. It has secured coverage that accounts for 40% of marine data demand. Through this, KT plans to proactively target the global marine satellite communication market, which grows at an average annual rate of about 9%.

"Covering 40% of Marine Data Demand"

KT's satellite communication subsidiary, KT SAT (KT Sat), announced on the 5th the launch of the marine satellite communication service (MVSAT) specialized brand ‘XWAVE’ and its expansion into global markets including Southeast Asia. The brand name XWAVE is a compound of ‘Express,’ meaning ultra-high speed, and ‘Wave,’ referring to ocean waves, reflecting the intention to lead future changes with ultra-high-speed technology.

KT Sat’s flagship service, Marine Satellite Communication Service (MVSAT), enables unlimited ultra-high-speed communication networks for ships navigating using satellites. The R-MVSAT (Regional MVSAT) service has provided high-quality Ku-band based communication through the ‘Mugunghwa Satellite.’ KT Sat is also preparing for the launch of Mugunghwa Satellite 6A, targeted for 2024.

Along with the brand launch, the coverage of the R-MVSAT service has been significantly expanded. Coverage now extends from the Bay of Bengal in northeastern India, through Indonesia, to the western waters of Australia in the Indian Ocean region. This scale can accommodate 40% of the global marine data demand. The existing pay-per-use low-speed communication service (432Kbps) has been replaced with unlimited high-speed communication (2Mbps), enhancing quality.

KT Sat’s digital services for ships include Vesselink and live broadcasting services. Vesselink supports economic ship operation through automated data measurement and analysis during ship navigation reporting, enabling performance analysis and intelligent fleet management. The live broadcasting service, launched in July last year, is Korea’s first real-time marine broadcasting service, supporting global satellite broadcasting across Asia, India, and the Middle East.

Rapid Growth in Marine Satellite Communication... Southeast Asia Market Capture

As the smart ship market grows, global demand for advanced communication infrastructure continues to increase. Smart ships are high value-added next-generation ship technologies that improve navigation efficiency and create various added values through big data analysis. Accordingly, demand for marine satellite communication as essential infrastructure is also rising.

Customer demand is also confirmed by data. According to global market research firm Modern Intelligence, the global marine satellite communication market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9% from 2020 to 2025. While North America is the fastest-growing region, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to be the largest market. Euroconsult also reported last year that the Indian Ocean sector, corresponding to the Southeast Asia region, is expected to achieve a 27.5% annual growth rate until 2030.

KT Sat is focusing on capturing the emerging Southeast Asian market. Song Kyung-min, CEO of KT Sat, said, "We will develop services utilizing ICT technologies specialized for ships such as CCTV, onboard Wi-Fi, and broadcasting to contribute not only to safe navigation but also to improving work efficiency and convenience."

Meanwhile, if KT Sat succeeds in launching the Mugunghwa Satellite 6A as planned in 2024, marine satellite communication technology is expected to be further advanced. Similar to in-flight Wi-Fi, it will be possible to expand 5G Wi-Fi networks by linking onboard 5G technology with satellite communication technology.

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