AscendArc Secures First GEO Deal with KT SAT, Promising Affordable Space Access for All
Ascend Arc provides bandwidth as a service from proprietary geo stationary satellite hardware.
AscendArc, a new entrant in the small GEO satellite market, has just landed its first major order—from KT SAT, the satellite arm of Korea Telecom. The deal, announced last week, will see AscendArc deliver a geostationary satellite slated to launch in 2027, marking a bold step toward making satellite ownership more affordable for telecom operators and governments worldwide.
Founded in 2023 by industry veteran Chris McLain, AscendArc is blending traditional GEO capabilities with manufacturing efficiency inspired by SpaceX. McLain, who previously worked at Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Panasonic, and SpaceX, told Via Satellite that the company aims to lower the cost per megabit per second below that of both traditional GEO and newer LEO players—making satellite broadband viable in underserved markets.
GEO Performance at a Startup Price Point
McLain’s vision is rooted in democratizing access to space. By applying consumer-electronics-style production to satellite builds, AscendArc has created a small GEO platform (up to 1,000 kg) with solid-state, software-defined payloads and large antennas that match the performance of more expensive satellites like Thales’ Space Inspire or ViaSat’s Jupiter—at a fraction of the cost.
“We are unique in that we have a price point that is like a small GEO, but we have a capability that’s more like a large GEO,” McLain said. “We’re affordable to any telco, operator, or Ministry of Defense.”
AscendArc emerged from stealth in January with a $4M seed round and is currently raising its Series A. The company has also secured over $1.8M in SBIR and STTR funding from the U.S. government to develop rapidly deployable GEO systems—especially relevant for defense and sovereign infrastructure.
Partnering with KT SAT to Bridge the Digital Divide
KT SAT’s investment in AscendArc is tied to its goal of expanding internet access across Asia-Pacific, where hundreds of millions remain unconnected. The new satellite will serve as a cornerstone for KT SAT’s regional growth and enable cost-effective connectivity in areas where fiber buildouts have proven economically unviable.
“Access to the internet has become a critical component of economic advancement, so our poorest citizens who are without it are simply being left behind,” said KT SAT CEO Young-soo Seo. “AscendArc stood out for its cost-efficiency, flexibility, and scalability.”
For McLain, this mission goes far beyond commercial success. “We want to offer satellite access outside cities at price points comparable to fiber,” he said. “Enabling very low-cost terminals is a key part of that long-term vision.”
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