| Internet communications bandwidth requirements | | | | and Ka band transceivers. The high throughout of |
| continue to grow at about 50% annually. The | | | | ViaSat-1 makes it ideal for transmitting new video |
| demand for Broadband Internet by satellite has | | | | applications requiring ultra high bit rates such as |
| been growing so fast, that WildBlue has stopped | | | | HDTV, HD digital cinema, and 3D TV. |
| taking orders in parts of the United States. | | | | DOCSIS also includes technology that addresses |
| The demand is likely to grow at a faster rate in | | | | rain fade, a reduction in signal strength caused by |
| the near-term. HDTV signals require 4-5 times as | | | | heavy rain. The ViaSat system automatically |
| much bandwidth for transmission as standard | | | | responds to rain fade with uplink power control |
| definition video, even with sophisticated MPEG-4 | | | | and adaptive data coding techniques. |
| encoding. By 2010, forecasts call for 80-90% of all | | | | ViaSat-1 and Ka-Sat will offer 10 to 15 times the |
| Internet traffic to be video transfer. | | | | capacity of Ku band satellites through frequency |
| There are currently over 600,000 satellite | | | | reuse by using a technology called "spotbeams". |
| Internet subscribers in North America, usually in | | | | Spotbeams are like a searchlight. Instead of |
| the more remote areas where broadband | | | | sending a signal across the continent, spotbeams |
| Internet is otherwise unavailable. Both times a | | | | focus a signal on an area 50-100 miles in radius. |
| new Internet satellite has launched, a large | | | | Since the frequency is focused on a limited area, |
| increase in satellite Internet subscribers has | | | | the same frequency spectrum can be reused for |
| followed, but within a few months, capacity was | | | | a different locale. |
| sold out in key geographic areas, capping | | | | Median DSL speed in the U.S. is 768 KBPS. Median |
| subscriber growth. | | | | Internet speed over cable is about 4.5 MBPS. |
| Current satellite systems aren't designed for the | | | | ViaSat-1 will price a basic service at 2 MBPS, |
| high bandwidth applications that people demand, | | | | raising satellite to about the 80th percentile of |
| such as HDTV, graphics, VoIP, and peer-to-peer | | | | DSL. Premium plans would easily surpass the best |
| networking. | | | | DSL service, and put satellite well above the |
| "It does not have to be that way. Day to day | | | | current median for cable. |
| consumer Internet interactions involving | | | | Eutelsat will position Ka-Sat in the same satellite |
| high-bandwidth activities like video and multimedia | | | | neighborhood as three existing Hotbird Ku-band |
| were not part of the plans when earlier satellite | | | | satellites at 13 degrees East. By positioning Ka-Sat |
| services were designed. We are aiming to give | | | | with these broadcast satellites they will be able to |
| consumers a vastly improved experience based | | | | bundle broadcast and broadband services. |
| on the most advanced technology on the market. | | | | Consumers in Europe will be able to receive TV in |
| These new capabilities are not only technologically | | | | the Ku-band and receive and transmit broadband |
| very feasible, they're also affordable," said Mark | | | | services in the Ka-band through a single |
| Dankberg, CEO ViaSat. | | | | dual-frequency antenna. |
| ViaSat has plans to address the demand. ViaSat-1 | | | | ViaSat-1 involves a collaborative effort between |
| is scheduled for launch in 2011. The amount of | | | | ViaSat, Loral, TeleSat, and Eutelsat. Eutelsat |
| bandwidth enabled by ViaSat-1, equipped with | | | | Communications is the holding company of |
| ViaSat's "SurfBeam" networking system, is | | | | Eutelsat S.A. With a current 24 satellites that |
| unparalleled. Total throughput is designed to be | | | | serve European continent, as well as the Middle |
| over 100 Gigabits per second, which is more | | | | East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and |
| capacity than the current North American fleet of | | | | the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three |
| two-way Ka, C and Ku band combined. ViaSat-1 | | | | leading satellite operators in terms of revenues. |
| should greatly improve the quality, capability and | | | | Eutelsat's satellites broadcast over 2,700 television |
| availability of high-speed Internet satellite services | | | | channels, of which more than 1,000 channels |
| for U.S. and Canadian consumers. | | | | broadcast from its HOT BIRD satellite which |
| In 2010, Ka-Sat will launch a satellite to provide | | | | serves over 120 million cable and satellite homes |
| similar service in Europe. | | | | in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. |
| The new satellites will also be used to provide | | | | Loral was selected to build the ViaSat-1 high |
| Internet services, TV (including HDTV), mobile | | | | capacity broadband satellite. Loral is investing in |
| Internet, and defense satellite communications. By | | | | the Canadian coverage portion of the satellite in |
| 2010, 60% of TV receivers will use a Satellite | | | | anticipation of Telesat Canada (which is 64 |
| signal, up from 15% in 2002. ViaSat terminals use | | | | percent owned by Loral) utilizing the capacity for |
| a networking technology that uses satellite | | | | Canadian services. The satellite is planned for |
| bandwidth more efficiently, called DOCSIS (Data | | | | Telesat's 115 West longitude orbital slot and |
| Over Cable Service Interface Specifications), | | | | Telesat will also provide telemetry, tracking |
| lowering the cost of Internet service to | | | | & control (TT&C) operations for the |
| consumers. The terminals include satellite modems | | | | satellite. |