Launched in 2012, Exede Internet is a broadband internet service that covers areas traditional terrestrial internet service providers do not reach. In 2013, Exede introduced Exede Voice home service as a companion to the data service. Exede also offers Exede Business, which was launched in 2014 and Exede Enterprise for live events, field operations, and disaster response.
ViaSat-1
The satellite ViaSat-1 was announced in 2008. Designed by ViaSat and manufactured by Space Systems/Loral in Palo Alto, California, the satellite was completed in 2011. It was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan in October 2011 using a Proton Breeze M rocket. The satellite has a geostationary orbit over North America at 115.1° West longitude. ViaSat-1 has 72 spotbeams. The satellite has 63 beams covering the continental USA, Alaska and Hawaii, and 9 covering Canada through the Xplornet service. The satellite weighs 6,740 kg and has a 15-year operational life. ViaSat-1 cost $400 million to produce and launch. ViaSat-2, which launched in June 2017, expands the capacity and coverage of the Exede service.
Exede Internet
Exede Internet is powered by ViaSat's ViaSat-1 satellite. Initially the satellite broadband internet was launched as a response to the lack of coverage provided by terrestrial services. The 12 Mbit/s service from Exede was faster than earlier satellite internet access options such as WildBlue which could reach 1.5 Mbit/s. In 2016, a 25 Mbit/s download speed was introduced in some areas, as well as a new modem supporting the new speed tier that includes an integrated Wi-Fi router and VoIP adapter. The internet service covers most of the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii. Between 2012 and 2015, the Federal Communications Commission has reported that Exede Internet met or surpassed advertised speeds. In the 2015 report, Exede download speeds were just over 100% of advertised, while upload speeds topped 150% of advertised speeds. Exede also offers voice over IP residential phone service with its Exede Voice service. DirecTV is one of the major retailers that offers Exede Internet to its customers. Dish Network resells the Exede service and other internet services under its own DishNet brand name.
Through Exede Internet technology, ViaSat offers in-flight Wi-Fi to connect airline passengers to broadband internet. ViaSat produces its own in-aircraft terminals that link ViaSat-1 using both Ka and Ku-band satellite networks to power the in-flight Wi-Fi. The service is used by JetBlue and United Airlines, as well as Virgin America, which uses the service to stream Netflix programming to passengers. JetBlue started with 30 planes using the service. The fleet contained 190 aircraft using the service in 2014, and 420 in November 2015. The dual-band technology allows airlines to offer connectivity to over 150 customers at a time per plane.
