The bank signed an agreement Thursday with the Ministry of Finance of Nigeria on the deal, which involves building and launching a Chinese-made satellite, the bank said in a statement Friday.

Wang Haibo, president of the China Great Wall Industry Corp., said the communications satellite, known as NIGCOMSAT-1, will be based on China's latest model of satellite platform, DFH No. 4.

Wang said this was also the first time China would provide a package of space products and services, including design, manufacturing, orbital delivery, and ground products and services, to an overseas client.

The company signed a contract with the Nigerian National Space Research Development Agency (NASRDA) in December 2004.

With 28 transponders, including 4 C band, 18 Ku band, 4 Ka band and 2 L bands, the satellite will be capable of meeting Nigeria's telecommunication, broadcasting and broadband multimedia service requirements, said Wang.

The platform is designed to have a lifespan of 15 years and would weigh 5,200 kg, while the transponders would have 8 kw of power, and would weigh 800 kg, he said.

Designed, constructed and launched by China's space sector, the satellite will also be put into orbit by a Chinese-made Long March 3 B carrier rocket from the Xichang Space Launch Center in China's southwest Sichuan Province, then delivered to NASRDA after being inserted into its correct orbit, in early 2007.

This is the first satellite China has exported to a foreign country although China has already proved to be a reliable launch service provider, having launched 30 satellites on 24 commercial flights since 1990.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

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