China Direct Broadcasting Satellite Co., Ltd., an enterprise established by China Satellite Communications Corporation (China SATCOM) and SINO Satellite Communications Co. Ltd. (SINOSAT), formally opened on March 30. The company is engaged in developing satellites for direct broadcasting and is building China's first direct radio and television broadcasting system.

China plans to use the SB4000 commercial satellite platform developed by France's Alcatel Alenia Aerospace Company to launch its Chinasat 9 satellite in 2007, and the Chinese-made Dongfanghong IV satellite platform to launch SinoSat-4 in 2008. The signal for this direct radio and television broadcasting system will be possible to pick up in more than 98 percent of the country. Users in remote areas will be able to receive the signals by using a small antenna.

By People's Daily Online