Launched in 1997 it was operated in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 61.5 degrees west for 12 years.

EchoStar announced August 2, 2017, EchoStar III "experienced an anomaly of unknown origin" during a relocation maneuver in the previous week "that has caused communications with the satellite to be interrupted and intermittent."

EchoStar III is now drifting westward at about 0.1 degrees per day, encountering other geostationary satellites.

The launch took place at 21:01 UTC on October 5, 1997, with the spacecraft entering a geosynchronous transfer orbit.

EchoStar III carried 16 (or more) Ku band transponders to provide direct voice and video communications to small dishes in North America after parking over 79 W or 135 W longitude.