CONTEC
CONTEC is a South Korea-based space ground segment solutions provider operating a 14-station global ground station network (E-um Station), offering GSaaS, satellite imagery processing, AI analytics via Space Studio, satellite control services, and KOMPSAT/ICEYE/Oreum-Sat imagery distribution primarily to government, defense, and satellite operator customers.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersDaejeon, South Korea
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CONTEC does
CONTEC Inc. is a South Korea-headquartered space ground segment solutions company founded in 2015 as a spin-off from the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). The company provides an end-to-end stack spanning ground station system engineering (turn-key construction), Ground Station as a Service (GSaaS) via its global E-um Station network of 14 RF and optical stations across Korea, Alaska, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, and South America, satellite imagery processing for both electro-optical and SAR data, AI-powered analytics through its Space Studio platform, satellite control software (FDS/MPS/SOS), and authorized distribution of KOMPSAT, ICEYE, and proprietary Oreum-Sat imagery. It is publicly listed on KOSDAQ (ticker 069670) since November 2023 — Korea's first listed domestic space company.
The company generates revenue through five streams: recurring GSaaS contracts with satellite operators, project-based ground station engineering contracts (largely with government and defense customers), transaction-fee satellite imagery distribution, professional services for EO/SAR data processing, and managed satellite control services. Customer concentration skews heavily toward Korean government and defense entities, including KARI, the Republic of Korea Army and Air Force, the National Institute of Environmental Research, and the Korea Defense Communication and Electronics Agency. Commercial satellite operators are served globally through the GSaaS and imagery distribution channels, with named resale partnerships with ICEYE and KOMPSAT.
CONTEC's strategic positioning combines global infrastructure (the 14-station network is the largest among KOSDAQ-listed space companies), vertical integration through the 2024 acquisition of AP Satellite (satellite communication terminals and onboard computers), and a proprietary analytics layer (Space Studio) atop diverse multi-source imagery. Recent commercial inflection is evidenced by FY2025 revenue of KRW 38.9 billion (+32.8% YoY), a 58% YoY revenue jump in Q3 2025, the first quarterly operating profit in Q4 2025, and a year-end 2025 order backlog projected at KRW 45-50 billion. Forward expansion includes optical ground stations (with Cailabs), deep space communications (with Ireland's NSC), and quantum key distribution services.
CONTEC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CONTEC
- Legal name
- CONTEC Inc.
- Website
- https://contec.kr
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- CONTEC is a South Korea-based space ground segment solutions provider operating a 14-station global ground station network (E-um Station), offering GSaaS, satellite imagery processing, AI analytics via Space Studio, satellite control services, and KOMPSAT/ICEYE/Oreum-Sat imagery distribution primarily to government, defense, and satellite operator customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CONTEC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Satellite Ground Station Services
- NAICS
- Satellite Telecommunications (5174), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ground Segment Systems (Ground Stations, TT&C, Mission Ops) (IMABACAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms (BPAMANAM), Defense Communications (Secure Radios, SATCOM Terminals, Crypto) (IMABAGAG), Space Defense & Missile Warning (BPAIAHAF)
Keywords
Where CONTEC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Daejeon
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices5 records
Markets served
CONTEC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Ground Station as a Service (GSaaS): CONTEC operates a global network of ground stations providing satellite data transmission and reception services for operators worldwide. Revenue is generated through service contracts with satellite operators, ground station hosting services, and CONTEC ONE web-based satellite communication scheduling platform.
- Satellite Imagery Distribution: Sale and distribution of satellite imagery including KOMPSAT series (KOMPSAT-2/3/3A/5), ICEYE SAR imagery, and CONTEC's own Oreum-Sat imagery. Revenue generated through new tasking orders and archive sales.
- Ground Station System Engineering: Turn-key solutions for ground station construction including site selection, system design, antenna installation, and performance verification. Revenue generated through project-based contracts.
- Satellite Image Data Processing: Processing services for EO (Electro-Optical) and SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite imagery including radiometric correction, geometric correction, and spatial correction. Also includes haze removal and precision matching filter processing.
- Satellite Control Services: Ground infrastructure and operational support services including mission planning, orbit determination, telemetry monitoring, and satellite status analysis for various satellite operators.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
CONTEC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CONTEC provides end-to-end space ground segment solutions for satellite operators, governments, and defense organizations. Its offerings span turn-key ground station engineering and construction, a global Ground Station as a Service (GSaaS) network (E-um Station) of 14 RF and optical sites, EO and SAR satellite image processing, AI-powered image analytics via the Space Studio platform, satellite control and mission planning services, and authorized-reseller distribution of KOMPSAT, ICEYE, and proprietary Oreum-Sat imagery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- E-um Station: CONTEC's global ground station network brand providing satellite data transmission services
- CONTEC ONE
- CONTEC Earth Service (CES)
- CONTEC Space Optocs (CSO)
- CONTEC Oreum-Sat
- SPACE STUDIO
- Asian Space Park (ASP)
Products and services
- Ground Station System Engineering (Turn-key) Turn-key solutions for ground station construction including site selection, system design, antenna installation, and performance verification, delivered as project-based contracts to government and commercial customers worldwide.
- Global Ground Station Service (E-um Station / GSaaS) Ground Station as a Service offering CONTEC's global E-um Station network of 14 RF and optical ground stations to satellite operators for satellite data transmission and reception, accessed through the CONTEC ONE web-based scheduling platform.
- Ground Station Hosting Hosting service for customer antenna installations at CONTEC ground stations, including design, installation, and maintenance technical support plus administrative support for frequency applications.
- EO Satellite Image Processing Professional processing services for Electro-Optical satellite imagery including radiometric correction, geometric correction, and spatial correction.
- SAR Satellite Image Processing (CONTEC SAR-P) Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar image processing using the CONTEC SAR-P solution with precision matching filters for Spotlight and Sliding Spotlight image processing.
- SPACE STUDIO (Satellite Image Analytics Platform) AI-powered satellite imagery analytics platform using deep learning technology for smart city monitoring, maritime facility detection, agricultural solutions, defense applications, ship positioning, crop monitoring, disaster prediction, and strategic surveillance.
- Satellite Control System Operation & Software Managed satellite control services and integrated control software (FDS, MPS, SOS) managing mission planning, orbit determination and prediction, satellite monitoring, and command transmission for multiple satellites.
- KOMPSAT Satellite Imagery Distribution Authorized-reseller distribution of KOMPSAT series (KOMPSAT-2/3/3A/5) satellite imagery, including new tasking orders and archive sales to domestic and international customers.
- ICEYE SAR Satellite Imagery Distribution Distribution of ICEYE high-resolution SAR constellation imagery under a satellite image provision contract, expanding CONTEC's radar imagery offering.
- Oreum-Sat (ContecSat-1) Earth Observation Satellite Imagery Earth observation satellite imagery captured by CONTEC's proprietary 16U LEO satellite (Oreum-Sat/ContecSat-1) with 1.5m spatial resolution, distributed for customer use alongside KOMPSAT and ICEYE imagery.
- Ground Station Integrated Operation Software (LCAM / IICAM) Proprietary software for ground station monitoring, control, and integrated operations enabling satellite tracking, command, and data reception with minimal operational staff (LCAM for automated pass execution and IICAM for real-time monitoring).
- Optical Ground Station (OGS) Laser Communications Laser-based optical ground station service for high-speed satellite data downlink, operated by CONTEC at the Asian Space Park in Jeju, South Korea (with OGS facilities in Jeju and Australia).
- Satellite Communication Terminals (via AP Satellite) Satellite communication terminals, satellite phones, baseband modems, and Standard Onboard Computers (SOBC) for LEO and geostationary satellites, developed and manufactured by CONTEC's subsidiary AP Satellite (APSI).
- Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Services Commercial Quantum Key Distribution services leveraging satellite communications for secure cryptographic key exchange, commercialized at full scale by CONTEC in 2025.
Quantifiable outcome
- Operating profit achieved in Q4 2025 after investment phase completion
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use CONTEC
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CONTEC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature7 records
CONTEC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- CailabscoreCONTEC partnered with French laser communications specialist Cailabs for technical assistance in deploying its second optical ground station (OGS) for satellite laser communications at the Asian Space Park in Jeju Island. The OGS enhances CONTEC's satellite data reception capabilities through laser-based downlink technology.
- Leo SpacecoreCONTEC and AP Satellite made strategic investments in Leo Space, a Daejeon-based small satellite payload company. The three companies collaborate to establish a NewSpace ecosystem spanning satellite manufacturing, operations, and services. Partnership combines Leo Space's optical payload and laser communication technologies with CONTEC's ground station infrastructure and AP Satellite's communications expertise.
- NSC (National Space Centre)coreCONTEC entered into a strategic partnership with Ireland-based GSaaS partner NSC to jointly develop deep space communication ground stations for lunar and Mars exploration missions. The partnership strengthens CONTEC's readiness for deep space communications and expands its European network.
- SK AXminorCONTEC signed an MOU with SK AX to develop new business opportunities, potentially combining space data services with SK's broader technology and infrastructure capabilities.
- Italy's High-Resolution SAR SpecialistcoreAPSI and CONTEC signed a strategic MOU with Italy's high-resolution SAR specialist for technology cooperation and potential joint product development in the SAR imagery sector.
- Daejeon Metropolitan CityflagshipCONTEC co-hosts the International Space Summit (ISS) with Daejeon Metropolitan City to promote Korea's NewSpace industry. Daejeon serves as Korea's space hub with CONTEC playing a central role in the ecosystem.
- OdysseusminorCONTEC signed an MOU with Odysseus to strengthen cooperation in space industry development, likely involving potential technology or market cooperation.
- AP SatelliteflagshipCONTEC acquired AP Satellite Co., Ltd., a specialized company in satellite communication terminal development and manufacturing since 2000. The acquisition established a vertically integrated structure combining ground station infrastructure with satellite communication terminal capabilities for expanded market presence.
- ICEYEcoreCONTEC signed a satellite image provision contract with ICEYE to actively collaborate in expanding the radar image provision business area. CONTEC distributes ICEYE's high-resolution SAR constellation imagery.
- Luxembourg Space AgencycoreCONTEC Space, the Luxembourg subsidiary, maintains close collaborative relationships with the Luxembourg Space Agency for R&D cooperation and global marketing in the European market.
- SpaceXcoreCONTEC established a partnership agreement with SpaceX, enabling ground station services and support for SpaceX launch missions and satellite constellation operations.
- Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KOMPSAT Partnership)flagshipCONTEC serves as an authorized reseller and service provider for KOMPSAT satellite imagery (KOMPSAT-2/3/3A/5), providing domestic and international customers with access to Korea's Earth observation satellite data.
- Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI)flagshipCONTEC has a long-standing partnership with KARI, Korea's national aerospace research institute. The company was established as a KARI startup and has supported KSLV missions, KOMPSAT satellite ground systems, and National Satellite Integration Center development.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights7 records
CONTEC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT): Norwegian operator of the world's largest commercial ground station network (Svalbard, Tromsø, Antarctica, plus global sites). Direct competitor to CONTEC's E-um GSaaS network for LEO satellite operators and EO/SAR data downlink.
- Atlas Space Operations: US-based GSaaS provider with a global ground station network (Freedom) and software-driven scheduling similar to CONTEC ONE. Competes head-to-head for commercial constellation downlink contracts.
- Leaf Space: Italian GSaaS provider with a global network of ground stations for LEO satellite operators. Direct competitor to CONTEC, particularly relevant given CONTEC's European expansion (Luxembourg, NSC Ireland) and Italian partnerships.
- SI Imaging Services: Korean distributor of KOMPSAT satellite imagery and EO data services. Directly competes with CONTEC's KOMPSAT imagery distribution business for Korean and international government/commercial customers.
Broad incumbents
- AWS Ground Station: Hyperscaler-owned GSaaS service bundled with AWS cloud and analytics. Competes with CONTEC for enterprise and government satellite operators seeking integrated downlink + cloud + AI workflows, with significantly greater scale.
- Microsoft Azure Orbital: Hyperscaler GSaaS offering integrated with Azure cloud, AI, and analytics. Competes for global satellite operator workloads that increasingly demand cloud-native downlink and processing alongside ground station access.
- Viasat (including RigNet GSaaS assets): Global satellite communications company with ground infrastructure, SATCOM terminals, and managed network services. Broad incumbent overlapping with CONTEC's ground-station, terminal, and managed-services offerings via AP Satellite.
Emerging players
- ICEYE: SAR satellite constellation operator and imagery provider. CONTEC is a channel partner/distributor for ICEYE imagery, but ICEYE's own ground segment and direct sales motion make it an adjacent competitor as it expands its own stack.
- Spire Global: Operates its own LEO constellation and offers ground-segment-as-a-service and space-data analytics. Overlaps with CONTEC's GSaaS and analytics offerings, particularly for weather, maritime, and aviation data.
- BlackSky: EO satellite operator with AI-powered geospatial analytics and tasking services. Comparable to CONTEC's Space Studio analytics and Oreum-Sat imagery offerings in the defense, intelligence, and commercial monitoring segments.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CONTEC social profiles
Digital presenceCONTEC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CONTEC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
CONTEC subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
CONTEC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors14 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CONTEC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CONTEC
What does CONTEC do?
CONTEC provides end-to-end space ground segment solutions for satellite operators, governments, and defense organizations. Its offerings span turn-key ground station engineering and construction, a global Ground Station as a Service (GSaaS) network (E-um Station) of 14 RF and optical sites, EO and SAR satellite image processing, AI-powered image analytics via the Space Studio platform, satellite control and mission planning services, and authorized-reseller distribution of KOMPSAT, ICEYE, and proprietary Oreum-Sat imagery.
Is CONTEC a public or private company?
CONTEC is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was CONTEC founded?
CONTEC was founded in 2015. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is CONTEC based?
CONTEC is headquartered in Daejeon, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does CONTEC make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Ground Station as a Service (GSaaS) is the primary driver. The others are satellite Imagery Distribution, ground Station System Engineering, satellite Image Data Processing and satellite Control Services.
Who are CONTEC's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT), Atlas Space Operations, Leaf Space and SI Imaging Services. Broad incumbents are AWS Ground Station, Microsoft Azure Orbital and Viasat (including RigNet GSaaS assets). Emerging players are ICEYE, Spire Global and BlackSky.
Does CONTEC have an API?
No public API is recorded for CONTEC.
What industry is CONTEC in?
CONTEC's product category is Satellite Ground Station Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAJ, Ground Segment Systems (Ground Stations, TT&C, Mission Ops), with a secondary code of BPAMANAM, Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms. Its NAICS code is 5174 and its SIC code is 3760.