[12-27-07 – Satellite Today] China Direct Broadcast Satellite Co. (ChinaDBSat) officially started operations Dec. 25, the company announced Dec. 27.
        China DBSat is a state-owned company that owns all civil and direct broadcasting satellites in China. The company was co-founded by Sino Satellite Communications (Sinosat), a state-run provider of satellite communications, and Sinocat. This merger makes China DBSat the only satellite operator on the mainland.
    China DBSat integrates all satellites of Sinosat, Sinocat and China Satcom. China DBSat initially will operate four satellites: Sinocat-1, Sinocat-2, Sinocat-3, and Chinasat 6B. Chinasat 9, which will make high-definition satellite programs available to the whole country, will be launched in 2008, while Sinocat-4, and Sinocat-6 are under construction.
    China is hoping to produce 80 percent of satellite equipment for the country locally by 2020.