ISTANBUL

South Korean shipping giant HD Hyundai will roll out SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service across its shipbuilding sites, aiming to improve connectivity, safety, and digital transformation in partnership with Korea Telecom (KT) and KT Sat, the Korea Herald reported.

HD Hyundai said the three parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Thursday at KT Sat's headquarters in southern Seoul.

Under the deal, HD Hyundai will utilize Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellite internet for its shipbuilding process. KT Sat will provide Starlink antennas and related equipment, while KT will integrate artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to boost employee productivity.

Starlink uses a global network of thousands of small satellites to provide high-speed internet access, even in remote maritime and mountainous areas where laying optical cables or constructing base stations is challenging.

HD Hyundai intends to leverage this service to enhance onboard communication systems in ships under construction, thereby creating a more intelligent work environment and increasing worker safety. The company believes this will enable faster responses to emergencies and unforeseen incidents.

"We are pleased to support HD Hyundai’s digital innovation through this cooperation," KT Sat CEO Seo Young Soo said.

Lee Tae Jin, executive vice president of HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering, said that this partnership will "significantly improve workplace safety and delivery reliability," reinforcing HD Hyundai’s leadership in global shipbuilding.