Korean satellite operator KT Sat has chosen Thales Alenia Space, among several other manufacturers, to build two spacecraft, Koreasat-7 and Koreasat-5A.
Both satellites will provide internet access, multimedia, broadcasting and fixed communications…
Korean satellite operator KT Sat has chosen Thales Alenia Space, among several other manufacturers, to build two spacecraft, Koreasat-7 and Koreasat-5A.
Both satellites will provide internet access, multimedia, broadcasting and fixed communications services, the contractor said in a statement.
Koreasat-7 will carry Ku- and Ka-band transponders and cover South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia and India from the 116E orbital slot.
Koreasat-5A, a Ku-band bird, will be positioned at 113E to cover South Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Under the turnkey contract, Thales is not only responsible for the design, production, testing and on-ground delivery of the satellites but also the launch campaigns, early operations phase and in-orbit tests.
The satellites are to be based on Thales’ upgraded spacebus 4000B2 platform and are slated to be launched in 2016. The launch provider has yet to be picked, Thales told SatelliteFinance.
Commenting on the contract, Thales CEO Jean-Loïc Galle said: “KT Sat is a long-standing customer, for whom we already built the Koreasat-5 and Koreasat-6 satellites. Through this new contract, we are delighted to support the development of large-scale space programmes in South Korea, and in Asia in general.”
KT Sat currently operates three satellites – Koreasat 5, Koreasat 6, and Koreasat 8 – at 113E, 116E and 75E respectively.
In December 2012, telecoms group KT Corp spun off its satellite assets into KT Sat, which comprises the parent group’s lease business of satellite repeaters and devices, as well as its satellite services assets.
The main purpose of the spinoff was to foster growth through streamlining its management. However, well-placed sources suggested at the time it might be the precursor to a sale of the satellite assets.
For a few months now, KT Corp has been embroiled in a legal dispute with Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) regarding the sale of a satellite in 2010.
In early November 2013, KT dismissed allegations that it sold two decommissioned satellites in 2010 and 2011 to Hong Kong’s ABS below market prices and without seeking government approval, despite the birds being deemed strategic assets.
But a few weeks later, the Korean government reportedly ordered KT to buy back one of the satellites, Koreasat-3, as it operates from an orbital slot belonging to the country, as per ITU rules.
Following a disagreement over prices between the two operators, ABS brought the case to the International Court of Arbitration (ICA) in January.
KT Corp and KT Sat were not immediately available to comment on the case and the new satellite order.
The manufacturer could not be reached before the press deadline.
