(AP)- - China rocketed a domestically produced communications satellite into orbit Sunday to provide wider and more advanced television services across the country, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.

The satellite, known as Sinosat-2, was built by the China Academy of Space Technology for the Sino Satellite Communications Co., or Sinosat, a state-run provider of satellite communications. Sinosat-2 is designed to provide broader coverage of TV signals and allow for more digital and live broadcast TV services, Xinhua said.

Sinosat-1, built by the French company Aerospatiale, was launched in 1998. Sinosat plans to launch a third satellite next year mainly to provide radio and TV services, Xinhua said.