China launches first communication satellite for space-based broadband project

China launched their first communication satellite aimed to provide broadband Internet services worldwide, especially in under served regions. This is part of the Hongyun project planned by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp (CASIC). ‘After a year long in-orbit technological demonstration by the satellite, CASIC plans to launch four mass-production Hongyun satellites before the end of 2020 to form a small network for Hongyun’s trial run’, the Daily quoted Xiang as saying.