[Satellite Today 12-5-08] Arianespace will loft the ViaSat-1 satellite into orbit for ViaSat in the first half of 2011, the companies announced Dec. 4.
    ViaSat in January ordered the Ka-band satellite to provide broadband service to the North American market. ViaSat and Eutelsat, which ordered the Ka-Sat satellite at the same time, are cooperating around ViaSat’s Ka-band SurfBeam networking system and a similar holesale business model that works through ISPs, telecommunications companies and pay-TV platforms to serve subscribers.
    ViaSat-1, being manufactured by Space Systems/Loral, is expected to have capacity estimated at 110 gigabits per second.
    "Winning this contract from ViaSat confirms our ability to deliver top-quality launch services," Arianespace Chairman and CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall said in a statement. "Arianespace is proud of our contribution to ViaSat’s pioneering role in the deployment of new broadband services."