DirecTV, Inc. ordered DirecTV-4S, another Boeing BSS-601HP satellite, in December 1999. It is the fifth Boeing satellite to be built for DirecTV. It was successfully launched on an Ariane-44LP H10-3 on 26 November 2001 and entered service on 27 December 2001.

DirecTV-4S is the first spacecraft in the DirecTV fleet to use highly focused spot beam technology, which enables DirecTV to expand its local channel offerings in metropolitan markets. DirecTV-4S also further strengthens DirecTV's in-orbit redundancy.

DirecTV-4S operates at the Ku-band frequency and carries two payloads: spot beams for local channels, and a national beam payload. The spot beam payload uses a total of 38 traveling wave-tube amplifiers (TWTAs), powered by a combination of 30-watt, 45-watt, 65-watt, and 88-watt TWTAs. The national beam payload carries two active transponders with further capability for two active high-power and six active low-power transponders.