Herndon, Virginia – November 04, 2026 -- ST Engineering iDirect has been selected as part of a KT SAT-led consortium to supply the satellite ground system for a South Korean government project to modernize and expand secure maritime communications.
iDirect to upgrade Ku-band and add a new Ka-band system
ST Engineering iDirect will upgrade the South Korean government's existing iDirect Ku-band environment and establish a next-generation Ka-band satcom system. The network is intended to support dependable connectivity for government maritime operations.
The consortium combines KT SAT's satellite and service expertise, ST Engineering iDirect's ground technology, Waldo's local integration capabilities and Intellian's antenna system.
Two geographically diverse hubs target network availability
The deployment will use two geographically diverse hubs to strengthen availability and minimize operational disruption. Running the same iDirect platform across the Ku-band and Ka-band environments will allow a phased transition, which limits implementation risk and disruption to ongoing maritime communications.
The ground system adds network monitoring, operational assurance and centralized network management, giving operators more visibility and control over performance and availability. It will also enhance the security of sensitive communications.
KT SAT takes end-to-end responsibility as lead contractor
KT SAT will be responsible for end-to-end deployment and integration of the system. Hyunbae Park, Executive Vice President of KT SAT, said the combined offering is designed to support "stable operations today" while providing flexibility for future requirements.
Brian Jakins, SVP Global Sales at ST Engineering iDirect, said the project demonstrates the value of its ground technology where performance, availability and operational confidence are essential.
ST Engineering iDirect cited recent naval and maritime communications programs in Southeast Asia and Europe as part of its government and mission-critical track record. Financial terms and delivery timelines were not disclosed.