ViaSat-1 Launched Successfully
Oct 19, 2011, 1:18 pm
#1
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ViaSat-1 Launched Successfully
ViaSat-1 is the satellite that will be part of the new LiveTV internet solution that is due in service at some point in 2012. It launched today from a base in Kazakhstan and everything appears to be operating successfully. Now that it is in flight they can get the transceiver part working and then get it on a plane or two. Good stuff.
Dec 15, 2011, 6:55 pm
#3
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No doubt. They're still expecting mid-2012 before they've really got something working, but the fact that the bird actually got into orbit, particularly after all the delays the launch incurred, is still a good thing.
Dec 17, 2011, 1:15 am
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No doubt. They're still expecting mid-2012 before they've really got something working, but the fact that the bird actually got into orbit, particularly after all the delays the launch incurred, is still a good thing.
JetBlue if Im correct, decided to skip the non satellite internet for its planes and instead is using the new satellite for TV and internet connectivity so for the 1st time JetBlue planes will have access to live tv + internet.
Considering the launch was successfull, the time to activate it shouldn't be that long.
It was launched on October 19th, it is now December 17th. Won't be much longer.
Dec 17, 2011, 1:11 pm
#5
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Only for part of the fleet, not surprisingly the same part that has the LiveTV service. The rest of the CO/UA fleet will be getting the Panasonic service which is also satellite-based.
Some will shift to satellite, likely without changing providers. Aircell (provider of the gogo service) is actively pursuing satellite-based services as well.
Sortof. They tried to do terrestrial internet via the Kiteline project but it failed when they couldn't get their partner to manufacture the transceivers in a functional and cost-effective manner.
You have a lot of experience in this market?? 
It will be months before there is something anywhere near operational on an airplane that we can see.
ibid.
It will be months before there is something anywhere near operational on an airplane that we can see.
ibid.