KT SAT & Rivada forge partnership for next-gen connectivity

KT SAT, South Korea's satellite communications provider, and Rivada Space Networks have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish next-generation connectivity for enterprise and government customers. The agreement aims to enhance network services in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond through the deployment of Rivada's advanced space-based network.

The core of this collaboration is Rivada's forthcoming constellation of 600 low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites, scheduled for initial deployment in 2025. The network promises to deliver ultra-secure, high-speed, low-latency connectivity globally, with complete deployment targeted by mid-2028 and full global coverage expected by 2026.

This collaboration comes at a critical time, as the Asia-Pacific region's subsea cables, which currently handle a significant portion of global data, are increasingly under geopolitical scrutiny. A more resilient and secure communications infrastructure is essential, and KT SAT's partnership with Rivada aims to meet this strategic need.

For enterprise and government clients, the unique features of Rivada's outernet are particularly advantageous. The network will offer secure connectivity for banks and global corporations with distributed offices, increased bandwidth for oil and gas exploration, seamless maritime and fleet management connectivity, and 5G satellite backhaul for expanding cellular networks. KT SAT anticipates leveraging these capabilities to gain a competitive edge in current marketplace while also enabling new business opportunities through multi-gigabit, bi-directional performance with worldwide reach.

Rivada's outernet is set to be the first unified global communications network of its kind. This LEO constellation will employ inter-satellite laser links combined with advanced onboard processing and routing to establish an optical mesh network in space. This design ensures that data remains in space from origin to destination, creating a highly secure and private satellite network with global, pole-to-pole coverage. The network's end-to-end latencies are notably lower than those typically offered by terrestrial fibre over long distances. By keeping traffic on a physically separate network, the outernet offers an additional layer of security for organisations needing to share data securely across wide geographic areas.

Declan Ganley, CEO of Rivada Space Networks, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. "We are delighted to be partnering with KT SAT given their long history and expertise in serving the telecoms sector in Asia Pacific. The outernet will provide secure connectivity and expanded coverage, enabling KT SAT to tap into new markets. Our unique infrastructure is what data communications has been waiting for—a game-changing constellation that redefines connectivity in terms of security, latency, capacity, efficiency, and coverage. As a completely new type of LEO constellation, the outernet can provide the Asia-Pacific region with next-generation infrastructure for secure, resilient communications and network expansion,” he said.

Looking ahead, Rivada and KT SAT aim to explore further opportunities for Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) networks in the Asia-Pacific region. These ventures include unlocking the potential of LEO satellites for data networks and services, developing business models for ultra-secure network services for global enterprises and government communication, and enabling growth for Asia-Pacific satellite and telecom operators by complementing the services that cannot be solely supported by geostationary satellites (GEO).

The partnership and subsequent projects mark a significant step toward revolutionising data communication infrastructure in Asia-Pacific and globally, promising enhanced security, resilience, and performance through innovative space-based technology.