LONG BEACH, Calif. — A communications satellite for Intelsat Ltd. was lofted into orbit early today from an oceangoing rocket platform in the equatorial Pacific, Sea Launch Co. said.

The Galaxy 18 satellite will provide television, data and telecommunications services to Intelsat customers in North America, Hawai'i, and Puerto Rico.

A Zenit-3SL rocket carrying the 10,234-pound satellite lifted off from the Odyssey launch platform at 2:43 a.m. PDT, said Paula Korn, spokeswoman for Long Beach-based Sea Launch.

All systems performed normally and the satellite's first signals were received at a ground station in South Africa, the company said. Galaxy 18 was built by Space Systems/Loral.

Sea Launch is owned by Boeing, RSC-Energia of Russia, Aker ASA of Norway and SDO Yuzhnoye/PO Yuzhmash of Ukraine.