India's advanced multi-band communication satellite GSAT-7 was successfully launched into the Earth's geosynchronous transfer orbit early Friday, giving a big push to the Asian country's maritime security.

The world's second-most populous country's first `military' satellite was launched by the European Space Agency's heavy rocket Ariane-5, from its Kourou spaceport in French Guiana off the Pacific coast.

The Ariane-5 rocket, which lifted along with the satellite at 2 a. m. IST, was deployed nearly 36,000 kilometers above the earth. The satellite's 108-ampere-hour l-ion battery allows it to function even during the eclipse periods.

Confirming the successful launch, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said, "The advanced multi-band communication satellite was deployed in the transfer orbit, around 36,000 km from above the earth; by the Ariane-5 rocket of the ESA's Arianespace 34 minutes after its lift-off at 2 a. m. IST."

GSAT-7 will enhance India's maritime security by enabling the navy to get Blue Water capabilities without any need to depend on foreign satellites, such as Inmarsat.

The spacecraft will provide UHF (ultra high frequency) band, C-band, S-band and Ku-band relay capabilities over the Indian land mass to enhance the maritime communications among India's warships.