(Asia Pulse via NewsEdge) KT, South Korea's largest fixed-line operator, had sealed an agreement with US-based company Sea Launch to put the country's first satellite for both military and commercial purposes into orbit next month.
Officials from KT signed a deal with Rob Peckham, president of Sea Launch, in Los Angeles for Sea Launch to put the Mugunghwa 5 satellite into orbit on August 20, KT said.
The Mugunghwa 5 satellite, jointly funded by South Korea's Defense Ministry and KT, is scheduled to lift off from a US vessel in high seas south of Hawaii to replace the Mugunghwa 2, which was put into space in 1996.
The country's fourth commercial satellite, built by Alcatel of France, will be utilized for military communications and commercial purposes, such as broadcasting and telecommunications.
During the first year, the military and KT will control the satellite for six months each. KT will have exclusive rights for the entire second year.
The two sides plan to sign a separate agreement on control and use of the satellite after the first two years.
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