Alcatel Space announced today it has signed a Euro 148 million contract with KT Corporation (formerly Korea Telecom) and the Korean Agency for Defense Development (ADD) to build South Korea’s first civil and military communications satellite, Koreasat 5. Alcatel Space will supply both the multimission satellite and its ground control system, along with launch and early operations phase (LEOP) support.
Based on the new-generation Spacebus 4000 platform from Alcatel Space, Koreasat 5 will feature a state-of-the-art broadband payload, including new technologies developed within the scope of the Syracuse III program.
With 36 transponders in Ku-band, C-band (civil) and SHF band (military), Koreasat 5 will deliver advanced broadband multimedia and digital television transmission services, along with conventional telecom services to operators in the Asia-Pacific region.
“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Republic of Korea, KT Corporation and the Agency for Defense Development for having chosen Europe to build the Koreasat 5 system,” noted Pascale Sourisse, Chairman and CEO of Alcatel Space.
“This contract is the culmination of unstinting efforts by everybody at Alcatel, since KT Corporation and ADD first announced their decision in favor of our technology back in December. At the same time, it confirms Alcatel Space’s leading role as a supplier of both civil and military spaceborne communications systems.”
