A Long March 3B rocket launches Belintersat 1 for Belarus. Photo: China Great Wall Industry Corp.

[Via Satellite 01-19-2016] Belintersat 1, the first satellite of Belarus’ new national operator Belintersat, launched Jan. 16 aboard a Long March 3B rocket from China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Center’s LC3 pad. The satellite’s orbital location is 51.5 degrees east, where it covers Europe, Africa and much of Asia to provide telecommunication services such as TV and radio broadcasting, and broadband Internet access.

Belintersat 1 is based on the DFH-4 satellite platform from China Great Wall Industry Corporation with Thales Alenia Space supplying payloads. The satellite carries 20 C-band transponders and 18 Ku-band transponders. Belintersat intends to use the satellite heavily for commercial purposes in addition to meeting the domestic needs of Belarus. Shortly ahead of the launch, the operator entered a partnership with NigComSat to manage the satellite for its 15-year lifespan.