Airplane, Sea, Space 'Hyperconnected'... KT to Launch Mugunghwa 6A Satellite in 2024

KT Sat Geumsan Satellite Center 50th Anniversary
Mugunghwa Satellite 6A Launch Preparation in Full Swing for 2024
Data Capacity Increased 10 Times with Mobile Coverage
New Satellite Technology Concentrated
Expanding Marine Platforms and Broadening Asian Export Markets

[Asia Economy Geumsan = Reporter Koo Chae-eun] From now on, you will be able to watch YouTube or Netflix in UHD quality without interruption even on airplanes. It will also be possible to have 5G video calls with family on ships sailing across the Pacific Ocean. These once-dreamed-of scenarios have become reality thanks to KT satellites that provide coverage across the entire globe.

KT SAT, a KT satellite subsidiary, announced on the 18th that it will launch the 'Mugunghwa Satellite 6A (hereafter Mugunghwa 6A)' in 2024, which has 10 times the data processing capacity of existing satellites. Mugunghwa 6A incorporates a large number of new satellite technologies. Its data capacity is 10 times larger than previous satellites, and its coverage can be adjusted even after launch. It also supports 5G. This means that remote medical consultations via 5G will be possible even on deep-sea fishing vessels in the open ocean. At a press conference held to mark the 50th anniversary of the Geumsan Satellite Center owned by KT, KT SAT CEO Song Kyung-min said, "We will lead the satellite industry that can provide uninterrupted networks anywhere?sea, sky, or space," adding, "To this end, we will finalize the technologies applied to Mugunghwa 6A this year and begin production next year."

◆Mugunghwa Satellite 6A to Launch into Space in Four Years = Mugunghwa 6A is the successor satellite to Mugunghwa 6, whose lifespan ends in 2025, and is scheduled to be launched into orbit at 116 degrees in 2024. Mugunghwa 6A includes high-throughput satellite (HTS) technology that increases data capacity tenfold and is equipped with a variable beam that allows coverage changes after launch. Its applications include in-flight Wi-Fi services and maritime satellite communications, targeting areas commonly known as 'communication blind spots' such as the sky and sea. Although in-flight Wi-Fi is already possible with Mugunghwa 5A, launched in 2017, Mugunghwa 6A will provide higher-spec in-flight Wi-Fi services. On the ground, internet signals are transmitted to the geostationary satellite using satellite antennas over 20 meters in diameter, which then connect to antennas installed on the top of aircraft. A KT official said, "Since in-flight Wi-Fi is almost universal among foreign airlines, there is a high possibility of expansion domestically, and satellites will play a significant role."

◆Advancement of Aviation, Maritime, and 5G Technologies = Mugunghwa 6A will be equipped with a Korean Precision GPS Augmentation System (KASS) repeater to improve GPS accuracy. CEO Song explained, "Once KASS is established, the current GPS error of about 30 meters will be reduced to approximately 1 meter, greatly contributing to the safety of aircraft takeoff and landing." Additionally, 5G and satellite communication integration technologies will be advanced to expand 5G network bandwidth. The speed of 5G network coverage expansion will accelerate through satellites that cover the Earth in coverage units.

The maritime satellite communication market is another area KT SAT is focusing on. So far, KT SAT has achieved an average annual growth rate of 20% in various maritime solution fields such as internet for ships, email, CCTV, and ship operation management. KT SAT plans to launch a 'Maritime Integrated Platform' that consolidates these solutions into a single server in the first half of next year. Alongside this, it will expand its satellite broadcasting business targeting global countries where wired communication is difficult, including the Middle East, Mongolia, and the Arabian Sea.

◆Remarkable Development over 50 Years... Leading the Asian Market = Opened in 1970, the Geumsan Satellite Center was Korea's first satellite communication earth station and has grown alongside the development of the domestic telecommunications industry. At its inception, it provided services with 136 circuits targeting seven Pacific Rim countries including the United States, Japan, and Taiwan, but it has now grown into Asia's largest satellite teleport with 45 ultra-large high-performance antennas and 7,000 circuits. Currently, KT SAT operates five satellites: Mugunghwa 5, 5A, 6, 7, and KOREASAT 8, covering about 60% of the Earth's total area (1,439,000 square kilometers). CEO Song Kyung-min stated, "Recently, the space industry has entered a 'new face era' led by private companies due to the remarkable growth of ICT technology," adding, "KT will grow as a leading company in the satellite industry."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.