ChinaSat-6B satellite was ordered with Alcatel Space (Thales Alenia Space), and is operated by satellite operator ChinaSat. The satellite is based on the Spacebus 4000C1 platform and has 38 transponders, and is being used for TV transmissions and shortwave jamming across China, South-East Asia, the Pacific and Oceania. It has a planned useful life of 15 years.

United States ITAR restrictions prohibited the export of satellite components for satellites launched on Chinese rockets. In response, Thales Alenia Space built ChinaSat-6B as an ITAR-free satellite, containing no restricted U.S. satellite components. However, the US Department of State did not accept the ITAR-free status of these satellites and fined the US company Aeroflex 8 million USD for exporting satellite components. In 2013, Thales Alenia Space discontinued its ITAR-free satellite line.

The ChinaSat-6B satellite was launched on July 6^th, 2007 on a Long March 3B (CZ-3B) rocket operated by launch operator CGWIC, from the Xichang LA-2 launch base.