Low orbit satellite internet services are set to launch in South Korea as early as September, with Eutelsat OneWeb and SpaceX preparing to enter the market, according to industry sources.

Eutelsat OneWeb, a subsidiary of France-based Eutelsat, has finished equipment conformity checks and is linking its network to local access points in partnership with Hanwha Systems and KT SAT, the satellite division of KT Corp.

KT SAT said OneWeb is installing equipment and expects to start service next month.

SpaceX, which operates Starlink, has secured regulatory approval for a key device but still needs clearance for other equipment, sources said.

SK Telink, a Starlink Korea reseller, said the service would launch after final approvals and preparations.

LEO satellites, which orbit closer to Earth than geostationary satellites, enable high-speed, low-latency internet connections.

🔗 Source: Yonhap News Agency

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ South Korea extends its telecommunications leadership from terrestrial to space

South Korea’s rapid adoption of LEO satellite internet continues its established pattern of telecommunications infrastructure leadership.

The country previously deployed 2.5 Gbps broadband speeds in 2018, when U.S. average speeds were just 18.7 Mbps, and became the first nation to launch a nationwide commercial 5G network in April 201912.

This early adoption strategy has consistently positioned South Korea ahead of global telecommunications trends, with government investments of approximately 1 trillion won ($933 million) in fiber infrastructure expansion between 2018-20201.

The simultaneous entry of both Eutelsat OneWeb and SpaceX Starlink reflects South Korea’s commitment to maintaining this technological edge through competitive market dynamics rather than single-vendor dependency.

2️⃣ Foreign satellite operators require local partnerships to navigate regulatory frameworks

Both major LEO providers entering South Korea must operate through mandatory local partnerships, demonstrating the country’s approach to balancing foreign innovation with domestic industry protection.

Eutelsat OneWeb partnered with KT SAT and Hanwha Systems, while SpaceX established Starlink Korea as a local subsidiary and works with SK Telink as an authorized reseller34.