From PC Mag: Viasat looks poised to offer faster speeds to compete with Starlink after successfully launching its new F2 satellite into orbit last night.
The next-generation F2 satellite took off from Florida on board a United Launch Alliance Atlas V551 rocket before separating from the vehicle. “The first signals were acquired shortly thereafter, confirming the satellite’s readiness for the next phase of operations,” Viasat says.
Importantly, the company expects the F2 to enter service early next year. The satellite will serve customers in the Americas, offering download speeds of over 100+ Mbps while adding over 1Tbps of capacity to the company's network.
The F2, which has a mass of about 6,000 kilograms (13,227 pounds), also promises to more than double Viasat’s overall network bandwidth, despite being a single satellite. It’s designed to circle the Earth at a high geostationary orbit of 22,000 miles, with the ability to beam broadband to users on the ground through “1,000+ steerable spot beams.”
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