China broadcast satellite fails

The satellite was launched in Sichuan nearly a month ago

A satellite intended to improve live television broadcasts for households in China has failed about a month into orbit, state media report.

The SinoSat II had been unable to deploy a solar panel and an antenna, a spokesman for the satellite operators was quoted as saying.

The satellite was launched on 29 October in south-west Sichuan province.

Its aim had been to fulfil the state's goal to get TV signals to every household, reports at the time said.

The satellite has "unfortunately suffered serious technical anomaly," the Sino Satellite Communications firm said on its website.

"The spacecraft is thus unable to be put into broadcasting and telecommunications services," it added.

A company spokesman said the failure would not halt plans to launch SinoSat III in the new year, the China News Service reports.