It was used to provide communications services to Asia, Africa, Middle East, Americas, Europe and Australia.

[6] The satellite was launched on an Ariane 5ECA carrier rocket, contracted by Arianespace, flying from ELA-3 at the Guiana Space Centre.

The launch occurred at 21:09 UTC on 27 May 2006, and placed Thaicom 5, along with the Mexican Satmex 6 spacecraft, into geosynchronous transfer orbit.

[7] At the time, it was the heaviest dual-satellite payload ever launched into geosynchronous transfer orbit,[8] however, this record has since been broken.

[9] It underwent on-orbit testing, and was positioned at a longitude of 78.5° East for operational service, where it replaced the failing Thaicom 3 satellite.