Launched from Cape Canaveral on 27 April 2015 aboard a Falcon 9 v1.1 rocket, the satellite operates at 52°E in the geostationary orbit and has an anticipated service life of 15 years.

[5] The satellite was originally intended to be launched on a Chinese Long March 3B rocket but International Traffic in Arms Regulations prevented some US made parts being exported to China for the launch, and so in June 2013 it was switched to a SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 launcher,[6] and planned for late 2014/early 2015.

[11] The TürkmenÄlem 52°E / MonacoSAT satellite has 38 Ku-band transponders providing coverage in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia[11] with three downlink beams:[12] The MonacoSAT payload of 12 Ku-band transponders commercialised by SES provides capacity for DTH broadcasting over the Middle East and North Africa, in addition to resources for trunking and data services in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.

In particular, MonacoSAT provides growth potential for the Abu Dhabi-based Yahsat and SES joint venture bouquet YahLive, additional to the broadcasts from YahSat 1A at the adjacent orbital position of 52.5°E.

WNS is the only and most active provider in Persian market for this satellite [1] Archived 22 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine Since 2017 the TürkmenÄlem 52°E appears on the reverse of the banknote of 1 Turkmen manat.