SKT Develops Disaster Response Communication Using Starlink Satellites for Wildfires and More

Participation in Korea Forest Service International Projects
Future Demonstration of Starlink Utilization Planned

SK Telecom is developing emergency communication technology that combines satellites and small base stations to respond to disasters such as wildfires.

On the 2nd, SKT announced that it will participate in the "Study on the Utilization of Low Earth Orbit Satellites for Wildfire Accident Prevention and Disaster Response," a national project led by the Korea Forest Service.

The goal is to minimize damage to forest resources caused by communication failures during disasters and to establish a foundation for rapid life-saving operations.

The research involves SKT, SK Telink, Professor Minho Baek's research team from the Department of Fire and Disaster Prevention at Kangwon National University, Contela, UR Information Technology, FM Works, and Seorak E&C, planning to introduce two types of satellite-based communication services: vehicle-type and backpack-type.

SK Telink will provide low earth orbit satellite links as the official domestic partner of the global satellite internet operator Starlink. After Starlink Korea obtains frequency usage permission, full-scale demonstrations will be pursued.

Through this research, SKT expects to quickly secure emergency communication networks in mountainous areas where communication networks have been lost due to large wildfires.

By supplementing the capacity of existing wired network backhaul with satellite communication-based wireless backhaul, communication will become possible in mountainous and other areas where building mobile communication infrastructure is difficult, which is expected to help protect valuable forest resources and public safety.

It is also expected to be used effectively for wildfire prevention and response by expanding the service area of about 17,000 wildfire monitoring smartphones nationwide and providing interoperability with disaster safety communication network terminals.

Chul-se Ha, head of SK Telecom's Infrastructure Business, stated, "Through this emergency communication technology research and development, we will eliminate communication blind spots in forest areas, contributing to the protection of valuable forest resources and ensuring the safety of workers in forest regions."

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