South Korea’s HD Hyundai Group will partner with Korean telecommunications company KT to introduce Starlink satellite services at shipbuilding sites. This initiative aims to create a smart working environment, enhance the safety and security of workers, and thereby improve working conditions within the shipyard.
On September 11, HD Hyundai Group announced the signing of a business agreement (MOU) with KT and its satellite service subsidiary KT Sat. The agreement covers the utilization of Starlink satellite services and the promotion of AI-based business innovation. Under this agreement, HD Hyundai Group will introduce and apply Starlink satellite services during the shipbuilding process; KT Sat will be responsible for providing the necessary equipment for the satellite service, such as Starlink antennas, while KT will be responsible for linking KT Sat’s AI technology to help HD Hyundai Group employees improve business production efficiency.
Starlink satellite service is a much-anticipated next-generation communication technology. Based on thousands of small satellites, it enables global internet connectivity and is a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication service operated by the renowned American aerospace company SpaceX. With this service, stable internet connection can be achieved even in areas where laying cables and building base stations is difficult, such as oceans and mountainous regions.
On May 30 this year, South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT approved a cross-border agreement signed by U.S.-based SpaceX, StarLink Korea, UK-based Youtelsat OneWeb, Hanwha Systems, and KT Sat regarding the supply of low Earth orbit satellite communication services in Korea. According to South Korea’s Telecommunications Business Act, overseas operators cannot directly provide communication services in Korea and must sign supply contracts with Korean legal entities.
Low Earth orbit satellite communication is a technology that provides real-time ultra-high-speed internet by operating in orbit at a relatively low altitude of several hundred kilometers. Its primary targets are aviation and maritime sectors. If the service is introduced, online video services (OTT), video calls, etc., could be used on long-voyage vessels, and it could also serve as a backup network in disaster situations.
In Korea, KT Sat acts as a distributor for StarLink services and offers satellite internet services for use in maritime, vessel, and low-cost carrier (LCC) applications. KT Sat is Korea’s sole satellite service provider and aims to become the world’s seventh-largest satellite operator by 2025.
It is reported that HD Hyundai Group will use Starlink satellite services to build communication networks inside ships under construction, create a smart working environment, further strengthen the safety protection of workers, and avoid potential sudden incidents and safety risks during operations.
Furthermore, HD Hyundai Group will also apply Starlink satellite services during remote sea trials of vessels. Currently, if a ship experiencing a malfunction during sea trials is in a communication shadow area, it must first sail to territorial waters with a communication signal before measures can be taken to resume the trial, leading to inefficient navigation. Using Starlink service will allow for the remote transmission of real-time data, such as the ship’s engine status, without time or location constraints, enabling timely countermeasures.
Lee Tae-jin, Executive Vice President of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, stated: “By introducing Starlink satellite services, the operational safety of the shipyard and the reliability of delivery schedules will be significantly enhanced. In the future, we will continue to lead the global shipbuilding industry based on differentiated technological capabilities.”
