Beijing—China Direct Broadcasting Satellite Co., Ltd., a joint venture between China Satellite Communications Corporation and SINO Satellite Communications Co. Ltd., has begun building China’s first direct radio and television broadcasting system. China plans to use the SB4000 commercial satellite platform developed by France’s Alcatel Alenia Aerospace to launch its Chinasat 9 satellite in 2007, and the Chinese-made Dongfanghong IV satellite platform to launch SinoSat-4 in 2008. The signals will reach more than 98% of the country, according to People’s Daily Online.