Superbird-C2 was ordered as Superbird-7 by Japanese satellite communications services company Space Communications Corporation (SCC) with Mitsubishi Electric Corp. (MELCO). The 5,000kgs heavy satellite was the first commercial order of a Mitsubishi DS-2000 type satellite that featured 28 Ku-band transponders.

The satellite was ordered in April 2005 by SCC, that was later merged and absorbed by satellite operator JSAT Corporation, when the satellite was renamed Superbird-C2 to replace  Superbird-C to provide communications services to Japan, Eastern Asia and the Pacific Ocean.

Superbird-7 was launched in a dual launch with AMC-21 form satellite operator SES Americom (SES) on August 14^th, 2008 on an Ariane 5 rocket booster operated by launch operator Arianespace from their Kourou Space Port launch complex in French Guyana.