MOSCOW, December 29 (RIA Novosti) - A Russian rocket carrying an American communications satellite blasted off from the Baiknour space center in Kazakhstan early Thursday morning, the Russian Space Agency said.

The Proton-M rocket was carrying the U.S. AMC-23 (Worldsat-3) satellite, which is designed to provide communications services, wireless Internet access and digital video broadcasting, and has a unique service life of 16 years.

"It will provide unprecedented coverage of the Pacific region and western North America," an agency spokesperson said.

The launch had been postponed several times due to persisting technical defects in the Briz-M booster.

In what amounts to an international effort, the 5-kilogram satellite was made by French company Alcatel Alenia Space and is owned by U.S. satellite communications provider SES AMERICOM, whereas the Proton-M carrier rocket and Briz-M boosters were manufactured by Russia's Khrunichev Space Center.

Launch services were provided under a contract with International Launch Services, a joint venture between U.S. aerospace giant Lockheed Martin and the Khrunichev center.