SK Telecom and LG Uplus downplay Starlink threat as ITU weighs direct-to-device spectrum rules

SK Telecom CFO Park Jong-seok and LG Uplus CFO Yeo Myung-hee each told investors this month that low-orbit satellite operator Starlink's impact on their domestic mobile market is limited, citing the large spectrum and capacity investments satellite services require and the strength of Korea's existing 5G coverage, Seoul Economic Daily reported. Their comments are the latest responses from terrestrial operators to direct-to-device satellite services, following similar assessments from carriers in Europe and Southeast Asia.

The regulatory picture is moving in parallel: the ITU's Working Party 5D discussed in Geneva how direct-to-smartphone satellite communications should share mobile spectrum, weighing 1 MHz against 5 MHz increments — a decision that will shape how much capacity satellite operators can claim in bands used by mobile networks. SpaceX's related moves keep the pressure on: EchoStar is reassessing spectrum transactions with SpaceX valued around US$20 billion with a late-2027 target, Reuters reports the company is targeting access to at least 80,000 US cell sites, and Musk has said he is open to a large telecom acquisition. For island and archipelago markets, the standoff between satellite direct-to-device and terrestrial networks is becoming a live policy question.