China on Thursday morning put a new communication satellite into orbit from the southwestern Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

The "ChinaSat 1C" satellite was launched at 0:46 a.m. and carried by the Long March-3B carrier rocket. It will provide high-quality voice, data and radio and TV transmission services.

The satellite was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology and is owned by China Satellite Communications Co., Ltd.

Thursday's launch is the 220th mission of the Long March carrier rocket series developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.