Korea’s fifth satellite is scheduled for 2006

KT Corp., the largest fixed line carrier in Korea, said yesterday that it has contracted with the Agency for Defense Development to launch the fifth Mugunghwa satellite in early 2006. Alcatel Space of France will make the satellite for KT. The fifth Mugunghwa, which will be used for civil and military communications, will replace a predecessor that was launched in 1996, the company said. The fifth satellite will have double the communications capacity of that predecessor, Mugung-hwa No. 2, the company said. It will be able to receive and relay signals over a wider Asian region, instead of only in Korea. Two Mugunghwa satellites are in operation. Mugunghwa No.1 was launched in 1995, and was replaced by No. 3 in 1999. The fourth Mugunghwa, scheduled for 2004, was canceled in 2000.