The ViaSat-1 broadband spacecraft has been launched on a Russian Proton rocket by International Launch Services (ILS) for ViaSat of California, US.

ViaSat-1 weighs over 6.7t and is the highest throughput satellite ever built, with a total capacity of more than 140Gbps, more than each satellite covering North America, the company said.

The all Ka-band satellite will be positioned at 115.1 degrees west longitude and will have a service life of 15 years or more.

ViaSat-1 was built on Space Systems/Loral’s 1300 platform with 72 spot beams, including 63 in the US and nine over Canada.

The satellite will enhance and expand high-speed broadband services with the most powerful all Ka-band satellite.