The Ariane-5 ECA rocket was launched at 8:46 pm (2346 GMT).

The mission was initially scheduled for June 24 but postponed several times for technical reasons.

Thirty minutes after the launch the rocket released satellite television firm DirecTV's Spaceway 2, which weighs 6.1 tonnes at lift-off, and will enable the company to provide live coverage in the United States, as well as Telkom 2, weighing nearly two tonnes.

Telkom 2 is owned by the Indonesian company PT Telkom Indonesia.

The two satellites were sent into orbit at a provisional altitude of 1,120 and 2,300 kilometers (695 and 1,425 miles) respectively from where they will gradually reach their final geostationary orbit, Arianespace said.

Arianespace chief Jean-Yves Le Gall hailed "this new success which shows that our launchers are very safe.

"More than eight tonnes were sent into orbit which is a world record," he added.

Ariane-5 ECA rockets are designed to carry a payload of almost 10 tonnes.

A new launch of an Ariane-5 with two telecommunications satellites has been scheduled for the second half of December, said Le Gall.

Arianespace has launched a total 11 satellites so far this year.

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