WENCHANG, Hainan, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- China on Saturday sent a new communication technology test satellite into space from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province.

Launched at 8:30 p.m. (Beijing Time) aboard a Long March-5 rocket, the satellite has successfully entered its planned orbit.

It will be mainly used to carry out multi-band and high-speed communication technology validation tests.

The launch marks the 618th mission by the Long March carrier rocket series.