Japan's three mobile carriers have launched D2D (Direct-to-Device, direct satellite consolidation) service that connects Starlink satellites directly to personal smartphones. In contrast, Korean mobile carriers are focusing on B2B (business-to-business transactions) through satellite subsidiaries such as SK Telink and KT SAT.
◇ Japan to use Starlink for free
On the 15th, the industry said NTT Docomo recently unveiled "Starlink Direct," giving all three Japanese mobile carriers Starlink D2D service.
The first to introduce Starlink D2D was KDDI, Japan's No. 2 mobile carrier. In April last year, KDDI launched "au Starlink Direct," the first in Japan. When users go to places without cellular coverage, their smartphones automatically consolidate with Starlink satellites. There is no need to apply for a separate service, nor to have a dedicated antenna or device. As long as the sky is visible, users can communicate via text and data even in mountains or at sea outside coverage, and share their location with family in an emergency. Over the past year, 3.5 million people, including hikers, used KDDI's Starlink Direct. The service is free.
KDDI said, "Our coverage is over 99.9% by population, but only about 60% by area due to Japan's unique terrain," adding, "Through Starlink, it has become possible to provide service in the remaining roughly 40% of areas." In November last year, KDDI expanded this service to overseas roaming. In cooperation with U.S. T-Mobile, which also provides Starlink D2D, KDDI users can communicate with Starlink satellites linked to T-Mobile when they go to remote areas such as the Grand Canyon where terrestrial base stations do not reach. KDDI will expand Starlink roaming to Canada, the Philippines, and New Zealand within the year.
NTT Docomo and SoftBank, Japan's No. 3 mobile carrier, each rolled out Starlink Direct last month. It directly consolidates smartphones with Starlink satellites outside coverage. NTT Docomo said it will "become an emergency communication means in areas where facilities are destroyed," and made the service free for all customers. SoftBank charges 1,650 yen (about 16,000 won) per month for some low-cost plans and offers it free to the rest. Rakuten, Japan's No. 4 mobile carrier, plans to launch D2D service within the year with U.S. AST SpaceMobile, a competitor to SpaceX.
◇ Korea, with dense networks, focuses on B2B
Korea, by contrast, has not commercialized D2D service. Domestic mobile carriers judge that demand for D2D is low in Korea, where the country is small and network coverage is wide. Indeed, Starlink has been providing internet service directly to corporations or individuals since December last year, but demand is low and fees are high, so it has not taken hold as a mass-market service. To use Starlink for personal internet, the lowest residential Light plan requires 320,000 won for hardware purchase (mini kit) and 64,000 won per month. Domestic mobile carriers' internet fees are roughly around 30,000 won per month.
That said, corporations are increasingly adopting it, such as five Hanjin Group airlines, including Korean Air Lines, Asiana, and Jin Air, introducing Starlink for in-flight Wi-Fi. Domestic mobile carriers are also developing B2B through satellite subsidiaries such as SK Telink and KT SAT. SK Telink and KT SAT, official Starlink resellers, signed Starlink supply contracts with Pan Ocean and HD Hyundai, respectively.
Experts say that because D2D can provide communication without base station constraints and could have a large impact on the telecom market, Korea also needs to apply and expand D2D. Choi Ji-hwan, a professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at KAIST, said, "Unlike Japan, our country does not relatively need D2D as much, but D2D can clearly help in emergencies such as missing-person or distress cases," adding, "It also helps defense operations, and it is certainly a technology we must ultimately secure." Kim Seung-jo, an emeritus professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Seoul National University, said, "Realistically, except for maritime vessels, we have little demand," while noting, "6th generation mobile networks (6G) cannot avoid relying on satellites."
In fact, Amazon jumped into the D2D market in April by acquiring satellite communications company Globalstar for about $11.6 billion to check SpaceX Starlink's dominance in D2D. U.S. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Communications Inc., the three U.S. mobile carriers, agreed to establish a joint venture to jointly promote the D2D business. They joined hands in an unusual move to counter SpaceX. Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX president, said on X, "It seems like a fight between three Goliaths and David," adding, "I'm betting on David." Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL) analyzed, "As of the end of 2024, about 350 million people, or 4% of the world's population, live outside coverage."