BEIJING (AP) — A Nigerian communications satellite built and launched by China has been knocked out of service due to a power failure, a spokeswoman for China's launch services provider said Thursday.

The Nigerian Communication Satellite, or NIGCOMSAT-1, ceased functioning early morning Tuesday Beijing time, said Geng Kun, the spokeswoman of Great Wall Industry Corp., the company that sent the satellite into orbit atop a Long March 3-B rocket in May, 2007.

"The solar wing malfunctioned, which led to exhaustion of electric power, then the satellite failed," Geng said.

Most satellites carry solar panels on an extendable wing to generate electricity, with backup batteries activated only when in the earth's shadow.

Intended to expand cell phone and Internet services in central Africa, the satellite's launch last year was hailed as the first time a foreign buyer had purchased a Chinese satellite and its launching service. It was built by the China Academy of Space Technology as part of a $311 million deal signed by China and Nigeria in 2004.

China has built up a lucrative satellite launching industry, in part by catering to developing nations. Last month, Venezuela's Chinese-made Simon Bolivar Satellite was launched from the Xichang base in China's southwestern Sichuan province. It is scheduled to begin carrying radio, television and other data transmissions in early 2009 after three months of tests.