China launches communications sat for Pak

China has launched a communications satellite for Pakistan from its Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province, Xinhua reported today.

China has launched a communications satellite for Pakistan from its Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province, Xinhua reported Friday.

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Launched at 0:15 a.m. Friday, the satellite - PAKSAT-1R - was carried by a Long March-3B carrier rocket, according to the launch centre.

It is China's first in-orbit delivery to Asian customers and also the first commercial satellite export to international users this year.

PAKSAT-1R will provide a range of services, including broadband internet, telecom and broadcasting, covering some regions of Europe, South Asia, the Middle East, and the eastern Africa.

The contract for the PAKSAT-1R was signed in 2008 between China Great Wall Industry Corporation and the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission of Pakistan.

In 1990, Pakistan's first low-orbit satellite, BADR-A, was launched by China with Long March 2E rocket.