KT SAT of South Korea Signs Satellite IoT Distribution Agreement with Skylo Technologies of the United States

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 11, Skylo Technologies of the United States and KT SAT, a South Korean satellite communications operator, signed a commercial distribution agreement under which KT SAT will promote and provide satellite IoT services based on Skylo's non-terrestrial network (NTN) in South Korea. This marks Skylo's first entry into the South Korean market, and the two parties plan to develop satellite connectivity business in areas such as maritime transport, logistics assets, remote industrial equipment, and environmental monitoring. Commercialization of the services following the agreement's entry into force still requires approval from South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT and the completion of relevant technical verification.

The cooperation adopts non-terrestrial network technology based on 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) communication standards. Unlike traditional satellite communication solutions that rely on dedicated satellite terminals, Skylo's services support IoT devices that comply with the relevant standards and are equipped with compatible communication chips or modules to connect directly to satellites. When ships, transport vehicles, and industrial equipment enter areas not covered by terrestrial mobile communication networks, the terminals can still transmit device location, operating status, and monitoring data via satellite. This solution does not require enterprises to build a separate satellite terminal network, but devices must meet the corresponding communication standards and compatibility requirements.

Maritime transport is a key application area the two parties aim to expand. During voyages far from the coast, where terrestrial mobile communication network coverage is limited, satellite IoT can be used to continuously collect ship location, equipment operating status, and related monitoring information. In the logistics sector, satellite connectivity can be used to track cargo and transport assets, reducing data gaps caused by communication interruptions during long-distance transport. For industrial equipment far from communication infrastructure, the services can also be used for operating status monitoring, transmission of equipment anomaly information, and environmental data collection.

KT SAT will be responsible for local market promotion, customer development, and service application verification in South Korea, while Skylo will provide non-terrestrial network connectivity services and related technical support. KT SAT plans to first conduct technical verification and application testing with potential customers, determine service solutions based on the needs of industries such as maritime, logistics, and remote equipment monitoring, and then proceed with commercial service deployment. The two parties have not yet disclosed the first batch of customers, service pricing, equipment procurement volumes, or the official commercial launch date.

Skylo is not a satellite operator in the traditional sense; rather, it provides non-terrestrial network services by integrating the network resources of multiple satellite infrastructure partners. Its partner network involves satellite communications companies such as Viasat/Inmarsat, EchoStar, Ligado, TerreStar, and Space42, and connects compatible terminals through a unified 3GPP standard system. According to official disclosures by Skylo, its commercial non-terrestrial network services have covered more than 41 countries and support access for millions of devices.

KT SAT is a wholly owned subsidiary of South Korea's KT Group, with more than 50 years of experience in satellite communications. Its business includes data communications, maritime communications, broadcasting, and mobile communications services, and it operates satellite and terrestrial communication facilities. This agreement combines Skylo's satellite IoT network services with KT SAT's local customer channels and satellite communications business. Next, KT SAT will apply to South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT for approval of the cross-border supply agreement and proceed with relevant technical testing.