Viasat to enter ViaSat-3 F1 satellite into service next quarter

Satellite operator Viasat is to enter its ViaSat-3 F1 satellite into service next quarter, despite the new machine offering far less bandwidth than planned after a deployment issue. The company plans to make ViaSat-3 F1 the first in a constellation of three geostationary Ka-band communications satellites. F1 is intended to cover the Americas, with future satellites covering the EMEA and APAC regions.

Viasat claimed the combination of its existing satellite fleet, the limited ViaSat-3 F1 capacity, the two other planned ViaSat-3 satellites yet to launch, ground network mitigations, and third-party bandwidth commitments means the company “remains confident” it will be able to meet the current and future needs of its mobility customers.

“During the quarter our antenna supplier completed its root cause investigation of the ViaSat-3 F1 antenna deployment anomaly,” the company said during its most recent quarterly update. “Based on its findings and recommendations, we are implementing several corrective actions on the ViaSat-3 F2 antenna. We expect to complete those actions as well as extensive testing and spacecraft integration by early calendar 2025 with launch expected shortly thereafter.”