Today it was a successful launch out of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, where an International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage deployed the Canadian Ciel 2 telecommunications spacecraft to serve North America. The Proton M/Breeze M launched the first Ciel-2 satellite for the Ciel Satellite Group, Canada's newest satellite operator from Baikonur. SES AMERICOM Inc., a minority partner in Ciel, was the contracting agent for the launch arranged by the International Launch Services. The contract for the launch was announced on February 15, 2007. The designated mission of Ciel II is to expand the bandwidth resources needed to increase the number of high definition and other TV services offered by broadcasters throughout North America.

Ciel 2 is a Spacebus 4000 C4 model satellite, the largest Spacebus class satellite built by Alcatel Alenia, with a mass of 5,575 kg. From its assigned orbital position of 129° West longitude, the high-powered Ku-band spacecraft will deliver a variety of communications services throughout Canada and the larger North American market. Ciel II is expected to operate for at least 15 years. The satellite's design was closely coordinated with an affiliate of DISH Network, a primary customer for the new satellite.

The Ciel Satellite Group was awarded the license for 129° West Longitude from Industry Canada in October 2004. Ciel II will be operated from a new Satellite Operations Centre at SED Systems in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The Ciel II satellite provides 10.6 kilowatts of power to the communications payload, which consists of 32 Ku-band transponders. The all Ku-band BSS satellite features high frequency re-use and both regional and spot beams.