demand for Broadband Internet by satellite is indisputable, as is the demand
for more communication bandwidth in general.
HDTV signals require 4-5 times as much bandwidth for transmission as
standard definition video, even with sophisticated MPEG-4 encoding. Internet communications bandwidth
requirements continue to grow at about 50% annually. Satellite Internet Services like WildBlue have been struggling to meet capacity. WildBlue has
stopped taking new orders in certain parts of the
are currently over 600,000 satellite Internet subscribers today in
Current satellite systems aren’t designed for the high bandwidth applications that people want, such as HDTV, graphics, VoIP, and peer-to-peer networking. "It does not have to be that way. Day to day consumer Internet interactions involving high-bandwidth activities like video and multimedia were not part of the plans when earlier satellite services were designed. We are aiming to give consumers a vastly improved experience based on the most advanced technology on the market. These new capabilities are not only technologically very feasible, they’re also affordable," said Mark Dankberg, CEO ViaSat.
ViaSat-1 to Double Total North American VSAT Capacity
has plans to address the demand. It is a
new satellite, now scheduled for launch in the Summer
of 2011 called ViaSat-1. ViaSat says its new satellite will have ten times the
capacity of today's satellites. ViaSat-1
should improve the quality, capability and availability of high-speed Internet
satellite services for
is a very advanced Ka band Internet satellite.
The amount of bandwidth enabled by ViaSat-1, equipped with ViaSat's "SurfBeam"
networking system, is unparalleled. Total throughput is designed to be over 100
Gigabits per second (Gbps), which is more capacity than the current North
American fleet of two-way Ka, C and Ku band combined. In 2010, Ka-Sat (launched
in December 2010) is a satellite to providing similar service in
The new satellites will also be used to provide Internet services, TV (including HDTV), mobile Internet, and defense satellite communications. More than half of TV receivers now use a local satellite signal, up from 15% in 2002. ViaSat terminals use a networking technology that uses satellite bandwidth more efficiently, called DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications), lowering the cost of Internet service to consumers. The terminals include satellite modems and Ka band transceivers. The high throughout of ViaSat-1 makes it ideal for transmitting new video applications requiring ultra high bit rates such as HDTV, HD digital cinema, and 3D TV.
DOCSIS also includes technology that addresses rain fade, a reduction in signal strength caused by heavy rain. The ViaSat system automatically responds to rain fade with uplink power control and adaptive data coding techniques.
ViaSat-1 and Ka-Sat will offer 10 to 15 times the capacity of Ku band satellites through frequency reuse by using a technology called "SpotBeams". SpotBeams are like a searchlight. Instead of sending a signal across the continent, SpotBeams focus a signal on an area 50-100 miles in radius. Since the frequency is focused on a limited area, the same frequency spectrum can be reused for a different locale.
DSL speed in the
positioned Ka-Sat in the same satellite neighborhood as three existing Hotbird Ku-band satellites at 13 degrees East.
By positioning Ka-Sat with these broadcast satellites they will be able to
bundle broadcast and broadband services. Consumers in
Loral Mishap Delays Schedule
The launch of the ViaSat-1, originally scheduled for early 2011, will be delayed by several months, following an accident at the factory at Loral.
involves a collaborative effort between ViaSat,
Loral, TeleSat, and Eutelsat. Eutelsat
Communications is the holding company of Eutelsat
was selected to build the ViaSat-1 high capacity broadband satellite. Loral is investing in the Canadian coverage
portion of the satellite in anticipation of Telesat