XICHANG, Sichuan Province, May 14 (Xinhua) -- China launched a communications satellite for Nigeria early Monday, a first for an African country and the first time China has provided both the satellite and the launch service.

    The Long March 3-B carrier rocket blasted off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province at 0:01 Monday. The northwest Xi'an Satellite Control center said the satellite had entered its orbit with no glitches.

    The Nigerian Communication Satellite, or NIGCOMSAT-1, a super hybrid geo-stationary satellite will provide communications services for Africa, parts of the Middle East and southern Europe.

    China began launching satellites for foreign countries in the early 1990s. NIGCOMSAT-1 is the first satellite, which Chinese scientists have designed, built and launched for another country.

    Observers say the successful launch of NIGCOMSAT-1 will create new business opportunities for China's space industry.

    Nigeria's Minister of Science and Technology Turner Isoun and several other high-ranking Nigerian officials witnessed the launch, which was broadcast live by the Nigeria Television Authority.

    Isoun told Xinhua that the successful launch of NIGCOMSAT-1 made Nigeria the first country in Africa to have a satellite with four frequency bands, which will greatly upgrade telecommunications, broadband multimedia and data exchange services in Nigeria and throughout the African continent.

    The satellite is also expected to improve e-commerce and government efficiency by promoting the development of the digital economy in Nigeria and Africa.

    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.

    "What we have achieved in this project is a masterpiece of Sino-African relations," Engr. T. Ahmed Rufai, chief executive officer of the Nigerian Communication Satellite Ltd., told Xinhua.

    "We have already started another project with China and I am confident we will continue to further bilateral cooperation in the future," Rufai said.

    In Nigeria, the launch of the satellite was front-page news in most domestic newspapers on Monday.

    Newspapers quoted Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo as saying that the successful launch of the satellite was "the best gift" that he and the Nigerian people could have had.

    Robert Ajayi Boroffice, Director-General of the National Space Research and Development Agency, described the launch of NIGCOMSAT-1 as "historic for Nigerians."

    The official was quoted as saying that the successful launch and operation of the satellite will help bridge the gap between Nigeria and developed countries in communications technology and accelerate Nigeria's social, economic, cultural and scientific development.

    The launch also boosted Nigeria's confidence in developing its own capacity in the field of space technology, Boroffice was quoted as saying by Nigerian media, adding that Nigeria will soon have a self-developed communications satellite.

    The NIGCOMSAT-1 will orbit at longitude 42 degrees east. The satellite, which is designed to last for 15 years, will be transferred to Nigerian control sometime this year after a series of tests are completed, Chinese experts said.

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

    "The bid from China was judged the most economically advantageous tender and thus won the bid," Rufai said.

    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.

    The satellite and carrier rocket were developed by China Academy of Space Technology and China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, both of which are under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

    Chinese space scientists said they completed building the satellite in two years, about five months less than most developed countries.

    The two monitoring ground stations are expected to be located in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, and Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

    Over one and half years, China has helped training of more than 50 Nigerian engineers in satellite monitoring, control and engineering, sources with the Chinese company said.

    The launch was the 98th in China's Long March series of rockets.

    Observers say the satellite program shows China is serious about cooperating with developing countries in the peaceful use of outer space and is committed to promoting closer relations with African countries.

    "China's space technology, which has achieved a series of breakthroughs in recent years, has won international recognition," said Shen Dingli, dean of the school of international studies at Shanghai's Fudan University.

    Shen said given the increasing demands of African countries in space technology and the price advantage China has, China-Africa cooperation in the field has bright prospects.

    China has been commissioned to launch about 30 foreign satellites.

    A Venezuelan communication satellite is expected to be launched by China in the later half of 2008.