n 2006, Ciel requested Alcatel Alenia Space (Thales Alenia Space) to manufacture the Ciel-2 satellite. Ciel-2 was based on Alenia’s’ Spacebus-4000C4 bus and is the largest Spacebus class satellite built to date (5,561kgs). The satellite operates from 129° West geostationary orbit position, and its 32 Ku-band transponders will deliver high-definition and other tv-services throughout North America. The satellite delivers also multiple independent spot beams in Ku-band.

Satellite operator SES from Luxembourg has a 70% stake in the Ciel Satellite Group.

Ciel-2 was launched on a Proton Breeze M rocket, operated by launch operator ILS, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazachstan on December 10^th, 2008.