A Long March rocket launched an advanced communications satellite on Friday for a Hong Kong-based operator.

The APSTAR-6C was atop a Long March 3B carrier rocket that blasted off at 12:06 am from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province, according to a statement from China Great Wall Industry Corp in Beijing, prime contractor on the project.

The satellite was designed and manufactured by the China Academy of Space Technology based on the DFH-4 satellite design. With a design life of 15 years, it is equipped with 45 transponders in C, Ku and Ka bands. It will provide regional communications and broadcasting services to users in the Asia-Pacific, the statement said. The launch marked the 273rd flight of the Long March rocket family.

APSTAR-6C's user, APT Satellite in Hong Kong, now has five communications satellites including the latest one, the second in the firm's satellite fleet made in the mainland.

The company's first mainland-made satellite was APSTAR-9, which was also developed by the China Academy of Space Technology based on the DFH-4 and launched in October 2015 by a Long March 3B rocket. It is capable of covering China, South and Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii.