Its launch was contracted by Arianespace, using an Ariane 4 44P-3 carrier rocket.

The launch occurred on 6 September 2000, at 22:33 UTC from ELA-2 at the Guiana Space Centre.

It was subsequently sold to Eutelsat as a backup satellite and designated RESSAT.

[1] Following its launch and on-orbit testing, it was placed in geostationary orbit at 10° East, from where it provided broadcast and communications services to Europe using wide-band feeds.

It carries twenty eight transponders, and has an expected on-orbit lifespan of 12 years.