ViaSat Looks To Add 17.7-18.3 and 27.5-28.1 GHz Bands to ViaSat-2 License

ViaSat wants to add the 27.5-28.1 GHz and 17.7-18.3 GHz frequencies to the market authorization for its soon-to-be-launched ViaSat-2 geostationary orbit (GSO) satellite. In an FCC International Bureau filing Friday, ViaSat said ViaSat-2 is almost built, is scheduled to launch in Q1 2017 and the company is seeking to modify the satellite application before it files applications for the earth stations that will operate in ViaSat-2's band segments. The company said adding those frequencies will help give ViaSat-2 more than double the throughput of ViaSat-1, which went into operation in 2011, and speeds in excess of 100 Mbps. ViaSat-2 is authorized to use the 18.3-19.3 GHz and 19.7-20/2 GHz downlink band segments and the 28.1-29.1 GHz and 29.5-30.0 GHz uplink band segments, the company said, saying no other GSO satellite is authorized to operate within two degrees of 69.9 degrees west on the 27.5-28.1 GHz and 17.7-18.3 GHz frequencies.