Hyundai Glovis said on the 19th that it has begun introducing the low Earth orbit satellite communication service "Starlink" to a total of 45 company-owned vessels, including car carriers and bulk carriers.
Starlink is a low Earth orbit satellite communication service operated by the U.S. space development company SpaceX. Using small satellites, it provides stable internet access anywhere in the world. Hyundai Glovis is installing it sequentially, starting this year with ships calling at domestic ports.
Starlink's distinguishing feature is faster data transmission speed compared with conventional geostationary satellite communications. While the geostationary satellites previously used on ships are 36,000 km above the Earth, Starlink uses small satellites in a lower orbit at an altitude of 550 km to build its network. As a result, the shorter distance to the ground improves perceived speed compared with existing maritime satellite communications.
Hyundai Glovis plans to strengthen its maritime safety response system through the introduction of Starlink and to pursue the establishment of a high-capacity data communication infrastructure and improvements to crew working conditions. It will secure communication coverage and speed to enable immediate communication with, and response from, shore even in maritime risk situations such as ship breakdowns, crew illness, and deteriorating weather.
It also plans to further upgrade its response system for various emergencies that may occur during deep-sea voyages. Based on this, it will lay the groundwork for introducing next-generation smart shipping technologies such as autonomous ship operation and AI-based predictive maintenance.
A Hyundai Glovis official said, "The introduction of low Earth orbit satellite communication is the foundation for simultaneously enhancing the safety and efficiency of ship operations," adding, "We will continue to actively leverage new technologies to realize safe and efficient ship operations and take the lead in building a sustainable maritime ecosystem."