Korea currently relies on US and international satellites for its Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) services, except for a newly certified satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) that enhances navigation signals for aircraft. The Korean Space Agency (KASA) has plans to launch a domestically owned and operated positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) satellite constellation. By 2035, KASA aims to develop a highly accurate and dependable satellite navigation system capable of providing centimetre-level location information to the Korean Peninsula and nearby regions, similar to the systems in Japan and India. At present, un-augmented GPS in South Korea has an error margin of up to 10 meters, which is too large for the effective operation of self-driving cars, UAV drones, and other emerging technologies that depend on precise positioning. However, the creation of a local GNSS system and the continued use of the new SBAS signal will reduce this error margin to just a few centimetres.

Prerequisites:

• Strong political mandate and sustained funding

• Spectrum/ITU coordination and filings and regional regulatory framework

• Partnerships with established GNSS/space primes and launch providers

• Technical Infrastructure (Servers and Storage, Network, GNSS Receivers)

• Technical expertise for system development, integration and operations

• Partnerships with GNSS providers and technical vendors

• Cybersecurity, data protection, and continuity planning

• Legal/regulatory framework for managing and sharing PNT data

Cost:

• Ballpark: USD 0.5–4B (depending on constellation size and reliance on augmentation)

• Includes: mission design and system architecture, satellite procurement and AIV (assembly, integration & verification), launch services and insurance, ground control segment and monitoring stations, signal certification and standardization, training and operations

In the use case illustrated, the cost of development was found to be approximately USD 3.3B by its completion in 2035

Timeframe:

• Overall: 96–144 mo

• Phase: feasibility and system design (24–36 mo), procurement/build/testing (48–72 mo), launch/commissioning/certification (24–36 mo)

Pros:

• Strategic Autonomy - Achieve independence from external systems, particularly valuable in defence scenarios.

• Regional Coverage - Deliver high-accuracy positioning in Korea and surrounding regions.

• Custom Services - Provide encrypted signals tailored for government and defence applications.

• Economic Potential - Boost sectors like location-based services, agriculture, disaster management, and logistics.

Considerations:

• Limited Global Reach - Acknowledge that the system is regionally focused, unlike GPS or Galileo, though global expansion is planned.

• Potential High Maintenance Costs - Prepare for ongoing investments in satellite replacement, ground infrastructure, and system updates.