The ChinaSat 12 (Chinese: 中星12号; pinyin: Zhōngxīng 12)[4][5][3][6] communications satellite is wholly owned by China Satellite Communications, with part of its communications payload leased or rented by SupremeSAT, a Sri Lankan company, to be marketed to potential users as SupremeSAT-I.

[7] Once operational, it will provide communications services for the China, Sri Lanka, East Asia, South Asia, Middle East, Africa, Australia, and China sea area, the Indian Ocean region.

[9] However, APT Satellite Holdings was contracted by its parent company as the operator of ChinaSat 12.

[9] Following launch on 27 November 2012,[10] the satellite was placed into geosynchronous orbit and located at 51.5° East while being tested.

[citation needed] The satellite was built by Thales Alenia Space and has a designed life of 15 years.