ViaSat-1 is a communications satellite owned by ViaSat. Launched October 19, 2011 aboard a Proton rocket, it is the world's highest capacity communications satellite, with a total capacity in excess of 140 Gbps, more than all the satellites covering North America combined, at the time of its launch.
ViaSat-1 is capable of two-way communications with small dish antennas.
The satellite will be positioned at 115.1 degrees West longitude, with 72 Ka-band spot beams; 63 over the U.S. (Eastern and Western states, Alaska and Hawai), and nine over Canada.
The Canadian beams are owned by satellite operator Telesat and will be used for the Xplornet broadband service to consumers in rural Canada. The US beams will provide fast internet access through WildBlue, ViaSat's satellite Internet service provider subdivision.
