hankyoreh

KT Corp., South Korea's top fixed-line operator, said Thursday it plans to launch a new satellite to meet the growing demand of the country's satellite broadcasting service.

The company plans to launch the new satellite, named Mugunghwa-6, in June 2010 to replace the currently operating Mugunghwa-3, scheduled to be shut down in late 2011.

Mugunghwa-3 relays satellite broadcast service of Skylife Co.,

a commercial satellite broadcaster, which has some 2.14 million subscribers.

The new satellite will be equipped with the latest device capable of relaying high-definition digital images, according to KT.

KT currently runs two satellites, the Mugunghwa-3 and the Mugunghwa-5 for its satellite broadcast service. The satellites take their name from mugunghwa, or the Rose of Sharon, the national flower of South Korea.


SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap)