ViaSat-2 is the second ViaSat, Inc. satellite to be launched by Arianespace. The first was WildBlue-1 in 2006. ViaSat has publicly announced plans to launch a ViaSat-3 class satellite with Arianespace in the future – further extending the partnership between the two companies.

ViaSat is changing the perception of satellite internet, globally. As a broadband services company, ViaSat has set out to advance global connectivity beyond what traditional telecom, wireless, cable or fiber could deliver, by solving one of the hardest communications problems: making the internet accessible and affordable to all.

The ViaSat-2 satellite system was designed to offer high-capacity connectivity and wide coverage, with dynamic flexibility to move capacity to where demand requires it. The ViaSat-2 satellite system is expected to bring considerable improvements in terms of speed, lower costs and extended broadband coverage within its footprint, which includes North and Central America, plus the Caribbean, northern South America, and the aeronautical and maritime routes in the Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe.

ViaSat-2 offers double the network capacity and seven times more coverage than its predecessor, ViaSat-1, and it will continue to transform the economics and quality of satellite broadband services – delivering the industry’s best satellite internet to users on the ground, in the air, or at sea. The satellite system offers approximately 300 Gigabits per second (Gbps) of total network capacity – more capacity than any other communications satellite. With an abundance of network capacity, coupled with a state-of-the-art ground network and industry-best bandwidth economics, ViaSat-2 can significantly improve speeds with an in-orbit cost per bit that is considerably lower than other satellite systems.

Positioned at 70 West, ViaSat-2 will be the highest capacity communications satellite in orbit, and will enable the highest quality internet connections, allowing customers to operate an array of fixed and mobile services including in-flight connectivity, maritime, emergency relief, oil and gas operations, and government applications anywhere within its coverage areas.

After the launch of ViaSat-2, Arianespace has another ViaSat Inc. satellite in its order book for orbiting at a future date.

ViaSat-2 was built by Boeing in El Segundo, California, using a 702HP platform. It will be the 54th Boeing satellite launched by Arianespace, which has three more satellites from this manufacturer in its order book.