Skylo, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) company based in the United States, held a press conference on the 16th and announced its entry into the Korean market.
Pete Saladino, head of global marketing at Skylo, noted at a press briefing held in Yongsan, Seoul, that there are two reasons for visiting Korea. He said, 'to discuss partnerships with equipment and chipset manufacturers, as well as automotive manufacturers like Hyundai, and to engage in conversations with the three major telecommunications companies: SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus.'
Skylo is an NTN service corporation headquartered in Mountain View, California. Non-terrestrial network (NTN) refers to networks that provide communication services through the sky or space without relying on ground infrastructure such as base stations and optical cables. This approach involves utilizing satellites like base stations in shadow areas where communication is poor, such as deserts, seas, and mountainous regions.
Utilizing radio frequency (RF) chips, Skylo supports devices like smartphones and the Internet of Things (IoT) so that they can connect directly to satellites even in environments that do not support cellular connectivity, right from the chipset stage. It has implemented Direct-to-Device (D2D) technology, where cellular chipsets of mobile devices are directly linked to satellite networks such as Viasat and EchoStar. Currently, it is collaborating with global mobile network operators (MNOs) to provide satellite-based text messaging and SOS features.
Saladino emphasized, 'Devices equipped with chipsets that utilize Skylo technology can dynamically connect to various satellite constellations. This allows for satellite connectivity using mobile phones and numbers in network shadow areas in remote regions worldwide where cellular coverage is not available.'
He further explained, 'If Korean telecommunications companies purchase their services, Koreans can use the same smartphones while traveling abroad to alert emergency situations even in distress.'
Skylo has collaborated with domestic corporations including Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics. Last year, Skylo completed certification for the Exynos modem 5400 with Samsung Electronics and applied Skylo-based satellite SOS messaging features to the Galaxy S25 series intended for the U.S. market. Certification for satellite connectivity features of Samsung's mobile processor Exynos 2500 has also been completed. It is providing a bi-directional satellite-based emergency messaging service in vehicles with Harman, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics.
With LG Electronics, Skylo co-demonstrated a vehicle emergency response function that combines artificial intelligence (AI)-based voice recognition technology with satellite connectivity at the '5G Automotive Association' (5GAA), a global vehicle communication consortium held in Paris last May. It plans to expand this technology into safety diagnostic systems in the automotive sector.
Skylo expects that its satellite service in Korea will be used for sending emergency SOS messages via satellite networks from smartphones or vehicles, or for transmitting transportation information in the shipping logistics industry during product movements, particularly in disaster situations such as wildfires.
He explained that companies like OneWeb and Starlink, which provide similar services, have 'different business scopes.' Saladino stated, 'The business models of the two companies are completely different.' He explained that while OneWeb and Starlink use dish antennas, Skylo utilizes chipsets.