The China Great Wall Industry Corp.(CGWIC), the country's satellite launch service contractor, and China Satcom signed a deal Friday on the launch of a French-made broadcast satellite.

According to the deal, CGWIC will, through the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., provide the launch service for China Satcom, the owner of the satellite.

The satellite, which will be manufactured by French company AlcatelAlenia Space, is expected to be lifted into space in 2007 atop a Chinese-made rocket Long March 3B from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

With a designed life of 15 years, the satellite, known as "ChinaSat 6B" Radio and TV Satellite, will be fitted with 38 transponder, allowing easy reception of up to 300 television programs across China, southeast Asia, Pacific and Oceania.

China's Long March rocket carriers have been used to offer 24 international commercial satellite launch services since 1990, involving 30 satellites and six payload services.

The rocket carriers have been enjoyed a reputation of high reliability thanks to their record of 46 successful consecutive launches since Oct., 1996, including the country's two manned space launches.

China Satcom, or the China Satellite Communications Corporation, is one of the country's six telecommunications operators in China.

Alcatel Space, a wholly owned subsidiary of Alcatel, is the world's third largest satellite manufacturer and the largest in Europe.

Source: Xinhua