SatelliteFinance understands that KT Corp’s Koreasat-5 has suffered a power issue to its SEPTA solar array drive assembly system that could lead to a 60-65% loss of power.
The issue is still being investigated although one insurer suggested that the…
SatelliteFinance understands that KT Corp’s Koreasat-5 has suffered a power issue to its SEPTA solar array drive assembly system that could lead to a 60-65% loss of power.
The issue is still being investigated although one insurer suggested that the insurance cost could be in the US$50m region.
Launched in August 2006 and located at 113E, Koreasat-5 was South Korea’s first combined civil and military communications satellite. It was built by Alcatel Alenia Space and contains 24 Ku-, 4 active Ka- and 8 SHF-band transponders, the latter for the military.
Last December, Korean telecoms incumbent KT Corp spun off its satellite business into a new company called KT Sat. At the time, the company said that the main purpose of the move was to foster growth through streamlining its management, although many industry observers believe it is paving the way to a potential sale or IPO of the business.