The Chinese-built satellite will provide broadcasting, broadband, remote education and emergency communications services across the North African country.

The satellite, which launched on 11 December at 12.40am Beijing time, is bound for geostationary orbit over the equator at 24.8 degrees west.
China’s commercial satellite launch operator China Great Wall Industry Corp (CGWIC) said the Alcomsat 1 spacecraft is based on the DFH-4 satellite design manufactured by the China Academy of Space Technology. Expected to be in operation for 15 years, Alcomsat 1 carries 33 transponders: 19 in Ku-band, 12 in Ka-band and two in L-band.

“The Alcomsat 1 satellite programme is the first communications satellite programme of Algeria, and also (marks) the bilateral cooperation between Algeria and China in space technology for the first time,” CGWIC said in a statement.

“The successful launch of Alcomsat 1 is the good beginning of space cooperation between (the) two countries. More cooperation (and) more space programmes are expected to be initiated soon,” CGWIC added.

China has provided manufacturing, launching and orbital testing capabilities. The Algeria Space Agency will take command of the satellite once it is ready to commence operation, in an agreement sealed between the two nations in December 2013.