A new satellite capable of transmitting 300 TV channels is expected to bring information signals to more households when it is launched in 2007.

The China Great Wall Industry Corp and the China Satellite Communication Corp (ChinaSat) signed a contract in Beijing on Friday to place ChinaSat 6B into orbit atop a Chinese rocket, company executives announced on Friday.

"In addition to covering China, the France-made satellite can beam signals to Southeast Asia, the Pacific Ocean and Oceania," Vice-President of the Great Wall company Gao Ruofei said.

With a mission life of 15 years and fitted with 38 transponders, the satellite uses state-of-the-art technology to meet increasing demands for communications and broadcasting services, he said.

It will also help narrow the digital divide between rural and urban areas, he said.

The satellite is based on the Spacebus 4000 C2 platform and will be positioned at 115.5 degrees east, its manufacturer Alcatel Alenia Space said.

It will blast off from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, atop a Long March 3B rocket.

Developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, Long March 3B is capable of carrying 5.1 tons of payload into geo-synchronous transfer orbit (GTO).

Also in 2007, the Great Wall company plans to launch ChinaSat 9, a powerful direct broadcasting satellite made by France, the company announced earlier. It will enable residents to receive satellite TV programs using smaller-sized receiving dishes.

The Great Wall company declined to specify which satellite will be launched first.

Since October 1996, Chinese Long March rockets have conducted 46 successful launches in a row.

(China Daily January 21, 2006)