ViaSat-1 is a high throughput communications satellite owned by Viasat Inc. and Telesat Canada. Launched October 19, 2011 aboard a Proton rocket, it held the Guinness record for the world's highest capacity communications satellite with a total capacity in excess of 140 Gbit/s, more than all the satellites covering North America combined, at the time of its launch. ViaSat-1 is capable of two-way communications with small dish antennas at higher speeds and a lower cost-per-bit than any satellite before. The satellite is positioned at 115.1 degrees West longitude geostationary orbit point, with 72 Ka-band spot beams; 63 over the U.S. (Eastern and Western states, Alaska and Hawaii), and nine over Canada. The Canadian beams are owned by satellite operator Telesat and are used for the Xplornet broadband service to consumers in rural Canada. The US beams provide fast Internet access called Exede, Viasat's satellite Internet service. ViaSat-1 is part of a new satellite system architecture created by Viasat Inc. The objective is to create a better satellite broadband user experience, making satellite competitive with DSL and wireless broadband alternatives for the first time. See also ViaSat-2 ViaSat Exede Internet High-throughput satellite – This type of communication satellite. Satellite Internet access References External links Exede website NYT article SSL ViaSat-1 page Launch overview Viasat-1 footprints System technical overview Design, build and launch summary video Xplornet Communications Inc. Presentation to FCC International Bureau Communications satellites in geostationary orbit Satellite Internet access High throughput satellites Spacecraft launched in 2011 First artificial satellites of a country Communications in the Isle of Man 2011 in the Isle of Man