KT Corporation (KT) and Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) announced that they have signed a multi–million dollar deal for multiple C and Ku–band transponders on ABS’ satellites, including the new ABS–2 satellite scheduled to be operational by Q1 2013. This will mark the third successful transaction between the two organizations in just over 12 months with the earlier agreements for the sale and purchase of two Koreasat satellites. The ABS–2 satellite will be one of the most powerful commercial satellite to be launched in the Asia Pacific region with nearly 12 kilowatts of payload power and up to a total of 74 active Cband, Ku–band and Ka–band transponders across 8 different beams and will be launched in early 2013. ABS–2 is specifically designed for a wide range of services including DTH, Cable TV distribution, VSAT services, Data networks and Telecommunications services. ABS–2 will provide expansion capacity to existing ABS–1 customers, and will also act as in–orbit spare and provide backup for the ABS–1 transponders.