LUSAKA, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government said Wednesday that it would roll out a China-funded digital television project across the country following its official launch in June.

The project, part of the Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African Villages, was officially launched by President Edgar Lungu in the eastern district of Vubwi, and will see 500 villages access satellite television services.

Dora Siliya, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said her ministry will soon start going to various parts of the country to establish sites for the project.

She told reporters during her weekly press briefing that the ministry was looking at having six sites each in various districts of the country as a way of ensuring that as many people as possible have access to satellite television services.

"I will be traveling to western and northwestern provinces to establish the sites this month while other teams from the ministry will also be departing to various parts of the country," she said.

The project is being undertaken by StarTimes Group and will be completed by the end of this year.