Korea eyes 1,000 MHz wideband frequency for satellite communications

[Courtesy of Ministry of Science and ICT]

South Korea is considering allocating 1,000 MHz of wideband frequency for satellite communications, alongside plans to provide test frequencies to support mobility innovations, in 2024.

The Korean government unveiled its 2024–2027 frequency spectrum plan during the previous week, with a goal to identify candidate bands for 6G mobile communications by 2027. The government will offer test and demonstration frequencies to drive innovations in urban air mobility (UAM), autonomous vehicles, and ships in 2024. For satellite communications, 1,000 MHz wideband frequency is being considered to enable high-speed, low-latency services that target the low-Earth orbit (LEO) communications market. Telecom carriers currently use about 100 MHz of bandwidth for their 5G services, and this is expected to increase tenfold for 6G.

International cooperation is crucial for advancing 6G and satellite communications, as major countries like the United States and China compete to set standards. Satellite communications are expanding network service coverage to air and sea, but latency in the LEO satellite market could drop to around 25 milliseconds compared to LTE due to declining costs for satellite manufacturing and launches.

Standardizing non-terrestrial communications, which integrate satellite and mobile networks, could pave the way for smartphones that combine these technologies. A related service may launch in the United States in 2024 via a partnership between Starlink Inc. and T-Mobile US Inc.

In Korea, the 10.7 to 11.7 GHz band is likely to be added for satellite services, impacting the introduction of defense unmanned systems, such as robots and drones. These frequencies support efficient unmanned and hybrid ground combat systems, with LEO satellite communications emerging as crucial strategic assets for boosting defense capabilities. According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, a demonstration project is underway to connect commercial LEO satellite networks with the tactical networks of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.