Telesat: ViaSat-1 satellite begins commercial service

 

February 14, 2011

 

Telesat is pleased to announced that ViaSat-1 has begun commercial service. 

 

The newest addition to Telesat’s global fleet, ViaSat-1 is designed to provide more than 100 gigabits per second throughput, making it among the highest capacity satellites ever deployed. Manufactured by Space Systems/Loral using their proven 1300 platform, ViaSat-1 operates at 115.1 degrees West longitude using nine Ka-band spot beams over Canada and 63 over the United States.  Telesat owns the nine Canadian beams on ViaSat-1 and has entered into a fifteen year service agreement with Xplornet Communications Inc. to make use of this capacity.

 

“With the capabilities of ViaSat-1, Internet subscribers in rural Canada are now able to have a superior online experience with true broadband performance,” said Dan Goldberg, Telesat’s President and CEO. “The start of service for ViaSat-1 is an important milestone for Telesat that adds to our record of bringing  advanced communications to Canada. We are pleased to be supporting our longstanding customer Xplornet as they deliver the very latest in affordable, reliable and high quality broadband services to rural Canadians.”