The People’s Republic of China plans to launch its first direct-broadcasting satellite by the end of October and is planning to launch its second geosynchronous meteorological satellite before the end of the year, according to state-sponsored reports.

Sinosat 2, capable of carrying radio and TV signals across the country, is scheduled for launch Oct. 29 from southwest China, according to Xinhua.

Sinosat 2 has an estimated 15-year lifespan and is intended to provide TV and radio transmissions, digital films, direct TV and digital broadband to China’s developing TV market. Industry analysts have predicted that once China permits individuals to install satellite dishes, up to 100 million households, about 25 percent of the nation’s TV sets, will do so by 2010.

Fengyun-2E (FY-2E), the weather satellite, earned approval after post-assembly examination and is intended to help prevent and reduce weather-related disasters while monitoring the Earth’s environment; China’s current geosynchronous meteorological satellite is the Fengyun-2C (FY-2C), which was launched in October 2004.