Proton rocket carrying Xplornet 4G broadband satellite

摘要

Markham, ON - ViaSat-1, North America's first 4G broadband satellite, was launched into geosynchronous orbit last month. Engineered to provide ubiquitous broadband access in Canada, ViaSat-1 will allow for previously unavailable speed and bandwidth economics, and will offer Canadians in its footprint, which includes many remote areas, the opportunity to get a broadband connection that is truly fast and affordable. ViaSat-1 can support customer download speeds of up to 25 Mbps, and its capacity is greater than the capacity of all current North American broadband satellites combined, with the ability to provide broadband service to 1.5 million customers in North America. Xplornet Communications Inc., Canada's leading provider of rural broadband, has purchased 100% of the Canadian Ka-band capacity on the satellite, and will use that capacity entirely for rural broadband. Together with the planned launch of a second, similar 4G satellite in 2012 and with its national fixed-wireless 4G network, Xplornet will effectively end Canada's urban/ rural digital-divide.