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)