WildBlue Communications selected ViaSat to supply satellite broadband equipment and ground systems for the WildBlue consumer and small office/home office broadband satellite service. The contract is valued at over $33 million and includes final development and production of consumer premises equipment (CPE) and gateway equipment to support WildBlue’s initial service launch. Customer equipment includes a ViaSat Ka-band satellite modem and outdoor Ka-band transceiver electronics from ViaSat subsidiary US Monolithics . CPE deliveries are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2004.
WildBlue anticipates launching its service in the second half of 2004, targeting an estimated 30 million homes and small offices in North America that don’t have access to other broadband options. The CPE technology is based on the DOCSIS standard. WildBlue is also expected to be the first satellite broadband service based on next-generation Ka-band spot beam technology. http://www.wildblue.comhttp://www.viasat.com
