China plans to launch another broadcasting satellite later this year to provide a wider range of people with hundreds of television channels.

Fan Xingmin, a spokesman for the state-owned Sino Satellite Communications Company, confirmed the news on Wednesday. He said the company plans to launch Chinasat-9 between September and October.

The satellite will broadcast to 98 percent of the people in China. It will replace Sinosat-2, which stopped working in November after it failed to deploy a solar panel.

Rural residents are likely to benefit the most from the satellite's launch, as many are currently unable to receive satellite TV programs.

If the launch is successful, the satellite will allow people to receive up to 200 high-definition channels via small antennas 0.45 to 0.6 meters long.

The Chinasat-9 is a new generation broadcasting satellite manufactured by French company Alcatel Alenia Space. It's designed to have a lifespan of 15 years.
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(CRI.cn March 15, 2007)