AsiaSat-5 was built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) and based on their 1300-series. The satellite is equipped with 26 C-band and 14 Ku-band transponders and located at 100.5 °East. Launch operator ILS orbited the spacecraft on 12 August 2009.

AsiaSat-5 serves as a replacement for AsiaSat-2 and has a C-band footprint spanning from Russia to New Zealand and from Japan to the Middle-East and parts of Africa. AsiaSat-5 also offers two high-powered fixed Ku-band beams over East Asia and South Asia, and a steerable beam currently positioned over the Indian Ocean.