ViaSat has selected Space Systems/Loral to provide what is described as the highest capacity broadband satellite to date. The new spacecraft is scheduled to launch in 2011 and will be based on SS/L’s 1300 platform and high-capacity Ka-band spot beam technology. Total throughput is designed to be over 100 Gigabits per second, which is more capacity than today’s entire fleet of two-way Ka-, C- and Ku-band capacity over North America combined.
ViaSat has secured financial commitments from partners of over $100 million to date towards ViaSat-1 and will finance the remainder from cash on hand, future cash flows and available borrowing capacity.
ViaSat-1 involves a collaborative effort between ViaSat, Loral, Telesat and Eutelsat, which is working with ViaSat on the networking system and a common wholesale business model that works through existing ISPs, telecommunication companies, and pay TV providers to serve subscribers.
Loral also announced that it is investing in the Canadian coverage portion of the satellite in anticipation of Telesat Canada (which is 64 percent owned by Loral) utilizing the capacity for Canadian services. The satellite is planned for Telesat’s 115 West longitude orbital slot and Telesat will also provide telemetry, tracking & control (TT&C) operations for the satellite.
http://www.viasat.comhttp://www.loral.com/
