SpaceX files papers in South Korea to launch Starlink satellite service
- The company has filed registration papers with the Ministry of Science and ICT
- Starlink’s website says its service will be available in South Korea in the second quarter of this year
Elon Musk’s company SpaceX has filed registration papers with South Korean authorities to launch its satellite-powered internet service Starlink in the country, Yonhap reported on Friday, citing sources.
The rocket company, which is expected to set up a subsidiary in South Korea to qualify for registration, filed the request with the country’s Ministry of Science and ICT earlier this month to roll out the service, the report said.
SpaceX and the ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Starlink’s website says its service will be available in South Korea in the second quarter of this year.
In October, Starlink expanded into the Philippines by offering satellite broadband service to businesses and the government.
Local partner Data Lake, a Philippine-based firm partly owned by tycoon Henry Sy Jnr, said it signed a deal to be the first partner of SpaceX’s Starlink in Southeast Asia.
That was good news for The Philippines, which has one of the worst internet connections in the world, yet one of the highest mobile penetration rates in the region at 138 per cent.