A Proton-M rocket carrying a ProtoStar-2 telecommunication satellite was launched from the Baikonur space center Saturday, the Russian space agency said.

"The launch of the Proton-M rocket fitted with a Breeze-M booster and carrying a ProtoStar-2 telecommunication satellite went ahead at the scheduled time," a Roscosmos spokesperson was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying.

The Russian news service said the Proton-M rocket launch is the fourth this year carried out by International Launch Services Inc.

ILS's controlling stake is owned by Russia's Khrunichev center, which develops and produces Proton and Angara carrier rockets. ProtoStar Ltd. is a private company incorporated in Bermuda.

ProtoStar plans to operate a fleet of geostationary satellites to provide direct broadcast services for Indonesia, India, Philippines and Taiwan, the news service said.