A New Age of Digital
A New Age of Digital
Earth Transceiver
Station Technology
for Koreasat I Satellite
Communications

In 1995, Korea successfully launched the Koreasat I satellite.
Korea became the 22nd country to have artificial satellites.
This success opened up a new age of digital satellite broadcasting in Korea including multimedia, multichannel satellite broadcasting, and satellite relay services.

01

Unlocking the Doors of Satellite
Communication Technology Development

In 1985, the Korean government planned for the introduction of satellite communication services to cover the rapidly increasing communication demand. However, no such related technologies were available and satellite communication technology was most needed. Accordingly, ETRI began development of the satellite communication ground system technology. From 1986 to 1988, ETRI worked with GoldStar, Samsung Electronics, Daewoo Communications, and Otelco (Dongyang Electronic Communication) on the satellite communication ground system technology development project. Through this, a satellite communication system using the Ku-band (12~14GHz) digital SCPC (Single Channel Per Carrier) method was developed.
From the end of the 1980s, Korea started its space development programs. In particular, as space development was pursued with the goal of independent satellite development, ETRI sought various solutions for a domestic communications and broadcasting satellite project and researched the establishment of a comprehensive plan for a domestic satellite project. In December 1989, the government finalized the domestic satellite communication project plan. ETRI began development of the stage 1 satellite communication technology from 1990 to 1994.
The Korean government set the goal of launching the first Korean satellite Koreasat I by 1995. As a result, research institutes and institutions from various fields came together. Manufacturing of the satellite body and control system was done by General Electrics (GE) of the US while the launch service was carried out by McDonnell Douglas (MD) of the US.
ETRI dispatched research personnel to the Koreasat I manufacturing company to participate in the design, manufacturing, and testing processes of the satellite in order to acquire on-site technologies. Domestic companies also participated in the production and delivery of some Koreasat I systems. Korean Air was responsible for the satellite structure, GoldStar Information Communication was responsible for some satellite components and the monitoring and control system, while High Gain Antenna took on the satellite control antenna.

In 1990, development of the ground system began.
Localizations of the remote rural area and administration communication (DAMA/SCPC) earth station system and the low speed data transmission earth station system (VSAT) were completed. International joint research on the remote rural area and administration communication earth station system was led by ETRI until June 1993 where Alenia Spazio of Italy, Daewoo Communication, and Dongyang Electronic Communication participated. The system developed through this joint research was adopted domestically and a commercial prototype with partially supplemented functionality was developed. Afterwards, in 1994, operation of a test service network began using a leased satellite (Intelsat-3).
From June 1991 to July 1993, a low-speed data-only earth station system was developed in Canada in conjunction with MPR Teltech of Canada, GoldStar Information Communication, Samsung Electronics, and Hyundai Electronics Industry. Later, a commercial prototype with partially supplemented functionality was developed domestically and a VSAT trial network was operated from September 1993 using the leased Intelsat-3 satellite. In the satellite communication service technology area, simulations were conducted to analyze the digital TV system, and a satellite TV broadcasting system appropriate for Korea was determined. Research on the digital satellite broadcasting based system design technology was also carried out in preparation of HDTV satellite transmission in the future.
For the satellite network design technology, a tool for optimal design of the satellite network was developed annually with the aim of securing independent design capability of the Koreasat network. In 1993, the interference analysis detailed design and program development was performed for effective construction of the domestic satellite communications network and an application was developed for the satellite communication channel modeling tool. Also, the domestic regulations for the satellite broadcasting transmission method using the Koreasat I satellite were determined tentatively and experimental prototypes were developed according to the tentative regulations.

02

Opening of the Digital
Broadcasting Service

The Korean government made plans to provide satellite broadcasting services in conjunction with the Koreasat I development plan as a means to provide a new media service to the people. Initially, some institutions including broadcasting companies had intended to implement the analog transmission method as the satellite broadcasting transmission method, but the digital transmission method was chosen in July 1993 in accordance with the global trend in satellite broadcasting technology. As the overseeing research institute, ETRI started research and development of the digital satellite broadcasting system in the form of a government-funded research project.
ETRI carried out numerous tasks including the development and standardization of the digital satellite broadcasting system along with the development of an operation model of the digital satellite broadcasting system until 1995. From 1993, ETRI performed system concept design, system selection, technical standard establishment, joint development planning, and system requirements determination. The design process of the digital satellite broadcasting system began in the second year of the project in 1994.
A satellite broadcasting transmission station system was developed in an international joint research effort involving LG Information Communication and MPR of Canada in order to enhance the stability of the technology and reduce the development period. As a result, the transmission station system development was completed in December 1995.
The digital satellite broadcasting system underwent basic functional testing in July 1995 and then was installed at the Korea Telecom Yongin Control Station. Beginning on July 1, 1996, KBS started test broadcasting of two channels. With this, the new age of digital TV broadcasting or TV 3.0 had begun in Korea. The development of the digital satellite broadcasting system not only marked the start of domestic satellite broadcasting, but simultaneously enabled multimedia applications by implementing the MPEG-2 format, which is a global high tech digital video compression and multiplexing method. Moreover, the achievement was more meaningful in that the digital broadcast service was initiated in the same period as other developed nations using the Koreasat I satellite as the medium.