[SatNews] Telesat is delighted with the successful launch of ViaSat-1...

ViaSat-1 is a powerful Ka-band satellite that will significantly expand the quality and availability of high speed broadband services to rural Canada. The newest addition to Telesat’s global fleet, ViaSat-1 was manufactured by Space Systems/Loral using the proven SS/L1300 platform. The satellite is designed to provide more than 100 gigabits per second throughput, making ViaSat-1 among the highest capacity satellites ever deployed. Launched aboard an ILS Proton Breeze M vehicle provided by International Launch Services, ViaSat-1 will be positioned at 115.1 degrees West with 63 Ka-band spot beams over the United States and nine over Canada. Telesat owns the nine Canadian beams on ViaSat-1 and has entered into a 15 year service agreement with Xplornet Communications Inc. to make use of this capacity.

“ViaSat-1 is a next generation, high throughput satellite that will provide fast and affordable broadband service to all Canadians,” said Dan Goldberg, Telesat’s President and CEO. “Telesat has been making significant investments in its state-of-the-art satellite fleet to improve the delivery of advanced communications services to Canadians. In the case of ViaSat-1, we are pleased to be working with our longstanding customer Xplornet, a pioneer and leader in bringing affordable, reliable and high quality broadband services to rural Canadians.”