China will launch two communications satellites and three meteorological satellites over the next six years, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) said yesterday in a press release in Zhuhai.

The corporation signed a deal yesterday at the Zhuhai air show with China Direct Broadcast Satellite Co Ltd (China DBSAT) to launch two communications satellites - SinoSat-5 (in 2011) and SinoSat-6 (in 2010) aboard Long March-3B rockets from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, the release said.

Beijing-based China DBSAT is the mainland's only satellite operator and currently operates the Chinastar-1, Sinosat-1, Sinosat-3, Chinasat-6B and Chinasat 9 satellites.

Wang Yanfeng, the firm's marketing and sales manager, told China Daily yesterday: "SinoSat-5 will be delivered into orbit and put into service before June 2011 to replace SinoSat-1."

SinoSat-1, which was bought from France to handle radio and TV broadcasts, and communications services in the Asia-Pacific Region, will be taken out of service in 2012, he said.

SinoSat-6 will replace SinoSat-3, and is scheduled to be put into orbit before June 2010, the press release said.

SinoSat-5 is currently under development, while the design of SinoSat-6 has yet to be agreed, a source with the China Academy of Space Technology under the CASC told China Daily yesterday.

Both satellites will have a 15-year lifespan and will perform better than their predecessors, he said.

China DBSAT, which integrates all of China's civilian telecommunication and direct broadcast satellite resources, was set up last year and now transmits programs for 169 TV and 40 radio stations. It is the second largest operator in Asia in terms of satellite numbers.

Also yesterday, the CASC signed a deal to develop three FY-3 meteorological satellites for the State Meteorological Administration, the press release said.

These will be launched in 2010, 2012 and 2014 to guarantee the continuous function of China's meteorological satellites, it said.

(China Daily November 5, 2008)