Ministry of Science and ICT and Defense Acquisition Program Administration Collaborate on Satellite Communication Technologies Including 'Low Earth Orbit Satellite Communication'

Promotion of Low Earth Orbit Satellite Communication Technology Development Project
Submission of Application for 4th R&D Preliminary Feasibility Study Target Project

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced on the 7th that they have signed a memorandum of understanding to advance the satellite communication sector, including low Earth orbit satellite communication.

This memorandum of understanding was established to promote the development and utilization of satellite communication technologies between the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, and to build a cooperative system that can efficiently carry out the "Low Earth Orbit Satellite Communication Technology Development Project."

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration will collaborate on ▲ satellite communication technology development ▲ securing satellite networks (orbit and frequency) in the satellite communication field ▲ utilizing satellite communication technology in the defense sector within the Ministry of Science and ICT’s technology development projects ▲ applying the results of the Ministry of Science and ICT’s technology development projects to the defense sector ▲ and establishing and demonstrating a low Earth orbit satellite communication pilot network.

The government anticipates that with the implementation of an integrated terrestrial-satellite network following the next-generation communication trends, ultra-spatial services using satellite communication will be activated in the future. In particular, low Earth orbit satellite communication is expected to become a core technology that can complement terrestrial networks due to its advantages such as high transmission capacity and speed, and low latency. Recently, low Earth orbit satellite communication networks were utilized even in battlefield areas where terrestrial networks were destroyed during the Ukraine war. However, domestic companies face difficulties entering overseas markets due to a lack of technological capabilities and space verification heritage compared to foreign companies.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Science and ICT is promoting the "Low Earth Orbit Satellite Communication Technology Development Project" to secure core technologies in the low Earth orbit satellite communication field and establish a foundation for domestic companies to enter the global supply chain. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration and the Ministry of Science and ICT will share common satellite communication technologies secured in the defense sector and ensure that the developed core technologies for low Earth orbit satellite communication can also be utilized in defense. The project period is from 2024 to 2031, with a total budget of 590 billion KRW. The government ministries submitted the project application for the 4th round of research and development (R&D) preliminary feasibility study in 2022 and are currently awaiting the results.

Choi Woo-hyuk, Director of the Radio Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "The government plans to actively invest in research and development in the low Earth orbit satellite communication field to strengthen the global competitiveness of domestic companies and contribute to military power enhancement."

Jung Kyu-heon, Head of the Space Command and Communication Project Division at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, said, "Based on this memorandum of understanding, we will closely cooperate to create a virtuous cycle environment for the development of the low Earth orbit satellite communication sector."

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