Designed for television and radio broadcasting, the EUTELSAT HOT BIRD 13B satellite has 64 Ku-band transponders spanning the entire range of frequencies used at Eutelsat's HOT BIRD neighbourhood.

With three high-power satellites, the HOT BIRD family at 13° East forms one of the largest broadcasting systems in Europe, delivering 1100 television channels to more than 120 million TV homes in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Direct-To-Home reception in beam centre is possible with antennae smaller than 70 cm, and with slightly larger antennas throughout Europe, North Africa and as far East as Moscow and Dubai.

The HOT BIRD video neighbourhood hosts 13 premium platforms, over 600 pay-TV channels, almost 500 free-to-air channels and over 150 HDTV channels. In addition to broadcasting television services, the system provides over 500 radio stations and multimedia services.