Elon Musk’s Starlink has been a hot topic in the tech industry since its launch. Currently, Starlink operates a constellation of around 7,000 satellites, making it one of the world’s largest Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite infrastructures. Since its first satellite deployment in May 2019, the company has launched an average of 3 satellites per day, with the goal of boosting communication speeds to 2Gbps. In the latest developments, Starlink has secured a WiFi service contract with Saudi Arabian Airlines and obtained final approval in South Korea, paving the way for the official launch of its satellite communication services.
According to South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and the National Radio Research Agency (RRA), the suitability assessment for SpaceX’s LEO satellite communication ground station radio equipment (model UTA-252) was officially completed on August 11. This approval grants Starlink Korea the authority to supply user antennas and related equipment domestically, removing the last regulatory barrier to its service launch.
Under South Korean law, foreign companies are prohibited from directly providing telecommunications services in the country. To comply with this regulation, SpaceX established Starlink Korea as a local subsidiary and registered it as a telecommunications service provider. In May this year, the subsidiary obtained approval under the cross-border supply agreement for LEO satellite services, allowing it to collaborate with its U.S. parent company. The market currently expects its commercial services to officially launch around September.
In the initial phase of operations, Starlink Korea plans to prioritize the Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) sectors, focusing on industries where Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) hold competitive advantages—including maritime transport, aviation, industrial parks, public services, and disaster response. SK Telink, Starlink Korea’s official distributor, has announced plans to roll out customized service packages, such as maritime and aviation communication packages, specialized service plans for public institutions, and hybrid solutions integrating fixed and mobile devices.
Following this good news, however, there are concerns for Starlink’s operators. After competitors like the UK’s Eutelsat Oneweb and Amazon’s Project Kuiper, a new rival has emerged in Japan—a market Starlink entered early on. Rakuten Group and Amazon plan to launch related services as early as next year, promising a new competitive landscape in the market.
Starlink is already widely used in Japan: Japanese telecommunications operator KDDI provides direct satellite connectivity for smartphones via Starlink, a service that is particularly crucial in rural areas and disaster-prone regions of Japan. Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) is currently formulating spectrum regulations, with plans to allow more companies to enter the satellite communications market starting from 2025—creating room for Rakuten and Amazon to compete.
Rakuten Mobile intends to launch its own satellite communications services between October and December 2025. The company has partnered with U.S. startup AST SpaceMobile, initially planning to offer SMS services, followed by the gradual addition of features like money transfers and video streaming. Rakuten stated that this initiative will help improve communication in areas without base station coverage and provide backup communication support during natural disasters.
Amazon is also preparing to bring its “Project Kuiper” satellite network to Japan, with plans to deploy over 3,200 satellites by 2029. Japan’s MIC will revise relevant regulations after April 2025, paving the way for Amazon’s entry into the Japanese market.