China on Monday successfully launched the first communications satellite for Nigeria, opening up the huge commercial satellite launch market for cash-strapped but resource-rich African nations.

The launch was the first of its kind for Africa and the first time a foreign buyer has purchased a Chinese satellite and its launching service.

The carrier rocket, Long March 3-B, blasted off from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwest China's Sichuan Province at 0:01 Monday (2131 hrs IST Sunday) and the northwest Xi'an Satellite Control centre said the satellite had entered orbit accurately.

The Nigerian Communication Satellite, or NIGCOMSAT-1, is a super hybrid geo-stationary satellite designed to operate in Africa, parts of the Middle East and southern Europe.

A high-level Nigerian government delegation was present at the launching ceremony, which was telecast live in Nigeria.

China was awarded the deal in 2004 after it outbid 21 international rivals to secure the $311 million deal.

Experts estimate that the satellite programme will revolutionise telecommunications, broadcasting and broadband multimedia services in Africa.

It will create more than 150,000 jobs for Nigerians, save broadband users more than 95 million US dollars a year, as well as providing Internet access to remote rural villages, and save more than 660 million US dollars in phone call charges, Xinhua news agency reported.

It is also expected to play key roles in e-commerce, improving government efficiency and promoting the development of the digital economy in Nigeria and throughout the entire African continent.

Managing director of the NIGCOMSAT-1 project, Hammed Rufai said the satellite would help Nigeria break free from its over-reliance on oil trade and transform itself into a knowledge-based economy.

The satellite will change positions in orbit until it is finally fixed at a longitude of 42 degrees east. It is expected to be put into use by Nigeria before the end of the year and has a lifespan of 15 years.

The satellite will be monitored and tracked by a ground station to be built in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, by a Chinese firm and a ground station in Kashgar, in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Today's launch represents the 98th flight of China's 'Long March' series of rockets.

The satellite represents China's wish to cooperate with developing countries in the peaceful use of outer space and to promote a closer relationship between China and African countries, the report quoted Chinese observers as saying.

China has signed several cooperative contracts offering commercial launching services for foreign satellites, said an official on space development, citing a similar satellite contract with Venezuela in November 2005 and adding that China has been commissioned to send about 30 foreign satellites into space.