The first satellite dedicated to delivering broadband services to Europe has launched on an Ariane 5 rocket.
The Hylas spacecraft is designed to fill so-called "notspots" - remote locations such as rural villages where it is currently not possible to get a fast internet connection.Lift-off from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana occurred at 1539 local time (1839 GMT).
The satellite was successfully placed in orbit 34 minutes later.
A signal from Hylas was picked up almost immediately at an antenna sited in India.
Controllers will now take a number of weeks to position the spacecraft properly in the sky some 36,000km above the equator, and to check out onboard systems.
Hylas (Highly Adaptable Satellite) is a commercial venture operated by start-up Avanti Communications of London, but the spacecraft itself incorporates technology developed with public funding through the European Space Agency (Esa).