The Spacebus 4000 represented a new larger platform to meet customer demand. Spacebus 4000 could be configured to masses of up to six tones, delivering 16 kW of power with 120 onboard transponders.

At the same time, the satellite bus was more flexible satellites to fulfill a variety of missions. To guarantee compatibility with high-power performance, Alcatel Space developed the new generation Avionics 4000 based on a 100 Volt power bus. Flexible, modular and fully integrated with a central onboard computer, it was a world's first satellite to launch an AOCS (Attitude and Orbit Control System) with a built-in star tracker for use in Geostationary Earth Orbit. The Spacebus 4000 was designed to accommodate new communications services such as High Definition TV and broadband multimedia.

Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Electrical System: Solar cells. Electric System: 16.00 average kW.

• 2005 April 12 - APSTAR 6 - Launch Site: Xichang. Launch Vehicle: CZ-3B. Mass: 4,680 kg (10,310 lb). Perigee: 256 km (159 mi). Apogee: 49,629 km (30,837 mi). Inclination: 26.00 deg. Period: 919.40 min.

  Delayed from November, December 4, 2004. Ku and C band transponders. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 133.99E drifting at 0.013W degrees per day.

• 2005 December 29 - AMC-23 - Program: Americom. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82M. Mass: 4,981 kg (10,981 lb). Perigee: 35,773 km (22,228 mi). Apogee: 35,801 km (22,245 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.

  Delayed from November, December 1 and 6. AMC-23 was to provide Ku-band multimedia and telecommunications services to Pacific rim countries over a planned 16 year life. A C-band payload was partly leased to the Japanese JSAT system. The Briz-M upper stage separated from the three-stage Proton launch vehicle at suborbital velocity, then conducted five engine burns before delivering the satellite to a 6193 km x 35,615 km x 18.5 deg geosynchronous transfer orbit at 11:48 GMT. The satellite would use its own Astrium S400 apogee engine to circularize the orbit at geostationary altitude. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 171.97E drifting at 0.002W degrees per day.

• 2005 February 3 - AMC-12 - Program: Americom. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82M. Mass: 5,000 kg (11,000 lb). Perigee: 35,782 km (22,233 mi). Apogee: 35,791 km (22,239 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.

  Americom 12 satellite, also known as Worldsat 2. The first Alcatel Spacebus 4000 satellite to be launched.

• 2005 October 13 - Syracuse 3A - Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5G. Mass: 3,725 kg (8,212 lb). Perigee: 35,771 km (22,227 mi). Apogee: 35,803 km (22,246 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.

  Syracuse 3A French military communications satellite. Launch delayed from mid-February, March 15, April 14, May 31, 2005. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 47.00E drifting at 0.010E degrees per day.

• 2006 August 11 - Syracuse 3B - Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5 EC-A. Mass: 3,750 kg (8,260 lb). Perigee: 35,777 km (22,230 mi). Apogee: 35,796 km (22,242 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.

  SHF and EHF military communications links for the French military. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 5.21W drifting at 0.004W degrees per day.

• 2006 August 22 - Koreasat 5 - Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL. Mass: 4,465 kg (9,843 lb). Perigee: 35,780 km (22,230 mi). Apogee: 35,795 km (22,241 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.20 min.

  The satellite will was to provide Ku-band service for Korea Telecom and Ka-band and SHF band transponders for the South Korean Agency for Defense Development. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 113.05E drifting at 0.012W degrees per day.

• 2007 July 5 - Chinasat 6B - Launch Site: Xichang. Launch Vehicle: CZ-3B. Mass: 4,600 kg (10,100 lb). Perigee: 233 km (144 mi). Apogee: 49,722 km (30,895 mi). Inclination: 24.20 deg. Period: 920.90 min.

  Direct broadcast satellite, capable of transmitting 300 television channels using 38 transponders. To be positioned at 115.5 deg E, beaming signals to China, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. Planned mission life 15 years.