Operated by Eutelsat, it provides direct-to-home (DTH) broadcasting services from geostationary orbit as part of Eutelsat's Hot Bird constellation at a longitude of 13° East.

Eutelsat and EADS Astrium announced in September 2003 the signature of a contract for the construction the Hot Bird 8 broadcast satellite.

Hot Bird 8 was constructed by EADS Astrium, and is based on the Eurostar-3000 satellite bus.

The spacecraft has 64 Ku-band transponders,[1] broadcasting satellite television and radio to Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

[5] The spacecraft was deployed into geosynchronous transfer orbit, raising itself to its operational geostationary position at 13° East by means of its apogee motor.