In 2012 DISH Network, a subsidiary of EchoStar satellite operator, ordered their EchoStar-18 with Space Systems/Loral (SS/L). EchoStar 18 is a Direct Broadcast Service (DBS) satellite built for EchoStar Corporation. It will replace EchoStar 10 at the 110° West location. EchoStar-18 features a high-power multi-spot beam, Ku-band payload with 61 transponders. The satellite utilizes SS/L’s flight-proven SSL-1300 spacecraft bus.

The satellite was launched on June 16^th, 2016, in a dual launch with BRISat, for the Indonesian Rakyat Bank, on an Ariane 5ECA booster rocket operated by launch operator Arianespace from the Kourou Space Port in French Guiana.