This article was published on April 3, 2025, at 10:27 a.m. on the ChosunBiz RM report site.
As SpaceX of the United States announced the imminent arrival of its low Earth orbit satellite communication service "Starlink" in South Korea, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the relevant department, is expected to accelerate the examination process for designated testing institutions, predicting faster service introduction.
According to related industries, the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Radio Research Agency recently announced the revision of testing items and methods related to low Earth orbit satellite communication ground stations. The Ministry of Science and ICT noted that it plans to use the revised testing items and methods for the designation of foreign testing institutions that are mutually recognized with domestic testing institutions.
SpaceX's Starlink is a project to establish a global internet network by launching 24,000 communication satellites into low Earth orbit. Currently, more than 7,000 Starlink satellites are operational in low Earth orbit. Last year, SpaceX established Starlink Korea and has been following the procedures to introduce Starlink services domestically.
The government has also been preparing for the introduction of Starlink's domestic service in anticipation of the low Earth orbit satellite communication era. At the end of last month, the cabinet meeting approved a revision to the Enforcement Decree of the Radio Waves Act to establish a legal basis for low Earth orbit satellite communication. The remaining procedures for domestic service are the examination of the revised technical standards related to Starlink and the evaluation of terminal compatibility.
The National Radio Research Agency announced a revised technical standards proposal in October last year to allow the use of Starlink terminals in the country, but the process was delayed as SpaceX provided modification comments. According to relevant departments, the current revised technical standards proposal completed review by the Ministry of Legislation on February 10 and is now pending preliminary review by the Regulatory Reform Committee of the Office for Government Policy Coordination.
Normally, the designation process for testing institutions should begin after the technical standards review by the Regulatory Reform Committee is completed. To speed up the service introduction, the Ministry of Science and ICT has begun the designation process for testing institutions without waiting for the completion of the technical standards review. On March 28, the agency announced testing items and methods related to low Earth orbit satellite communication ground stations and simultaneously started accepting requests for testing institution designation and conducting evaluations.
Once the revision of the technical standards is completed, there are plans to designate testing institutions immediately to shorten the service introduction process. The electromagnetic compatibility evaluation for low Earth orbit satellite communication services can only begin once the designation of testing institutions is completed; if this process speeds up, the compatibility evaluation can also proceed rapidly.
With the relevant department, the Ministry of Science and ICT, actively involved, it seems likely that Starlink's domestic service will also be possible within the first half of the year. A representative from the satellite communication industry said, "If the same procedures are applied to other domestic low Earth orbit satellite communication services to be established in the future besides Starlink, it will help secure domestic low Earth orbit satellite communication technology."