A communications satellite launched by China for Nigeria on May 14 was fixed at its planned point in orbit on Tuesday morning.

The Nigerian Communication Satellite, or NIGCOMSAT-1, took up its final position at a longitude of 42 degrees at 8:22 a.m. after changing its position in orbit five times over the last week.

The Xi'an Satellite Control Center reported that ground control stations, which have been monitoring the satellite, had unfolded the satellite's solar sail and antennae, and ignited its engine in preparation for use later this year.

The geo-stationary satellite will offer telecommunications, broadcasting and broadband multimedia services for Africa for the next 15 years.

"The satellite still needs to pass a series of tests before it is put into use," said an official with the control center.

"The successful launch and positioning of the NIGCOMSAT-1 shows that the Chinese are able to build an advanced platform for communications satellites, which will create new business opportunities for China's space industry," Zhou Zhicheng, general director of the NIGCOMSAT-1 program, told Xinhua.

The satellite was built on China's new generation geo-stationary satellite platform -- the chassis or framework that carries a satellite's equipment payload.

The platform, named Dongfanghong-IV, has a designed lifespan of15 year and can support a payload of up to 800 kilograms. The previous platform, Dongfanghong-III, had a designed life of eight years and could only carry a payload of 220 kilograms.

China was awarded the contract in 2004, outbidding 21 international rivals to secure the 311 million U.S. dollar deal.

Under the deal, China not only provides the satellite and the launch service, but will also build two ground monitoring stations, and provide support services and personnel training.

Experts estimate that the operation of the satellite will create thousands of new jobs for Nigerians, provide Internet access to remote rural villages, and save more than 660 million U.S. dollars in telephone charges.

China began launching satellites for foreign countries in early1990s. NIGCOMSAT-1 is the first satellite that Chinese scientists have designed, built and launched for another country.

Zhou, general director of the NIGCOMSAT-1 program, said many countries had shown interest in buying satellites from China.

"China has already sealed a satellite deal with Venezuela and the communication satellite is expected to be launched by China in the latter half of 2008," he said.

China has been commissioned to launch about 30 foreign satellites.

(Xinhua News Agency via chinaview.cn May 22, 2007)