China's first direct broadcast satellite (DBS) Chinasat 9 is set to be launched next month, having arrived at Xichang Qingshan airport on May 5, the China Business News reported today, according to sources from China Direct Broadcast Satellite Co Ltd.

Chinasat 9, produced in France, is part of China's first generation DBS system, which will transmit signals covering 98 percent of the nation's territory. It's capable of transmitting up to 200 radio and TV channels to users throughout China, including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

The 100 million euro satellite is to be operated and managed by China Direct Broadcast Satellite Co Ltd. The company then will have a total of five satellites servicing on orbits, with signals covering the whole Chinese territory. The Chinese mainland satellite operator also plans to add Sinosat-4 and Sinosat-6 to its lineup by 2010.

China Direct Broadcast Satellite Co Ltd, which integrates all of China's civilian telecommunication satellite and direct broadcast satellite resources, debuted last December after an equity reform. The company, with a registered capital of 3.8 billion yuan ($517 million) and total assets of seven billion yuan, now runs Chinastar-1, Sinosat-1, Sinosat-3, and Chinasat-6B satellites.