Viasat reports that its GX10A and GX10B satellite payloads are now operational, delivering Ka-band connectivity for government users in the Arctic region, with commercial maritime services expected to follow in 2026.
The payloads are hosted on Space Norway’s Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) spacecraft, ASBM-1 and ASBM-2, which launched in August 2024. The satellites also include payloads for the Norwegian Military and US Government, as well as a radiation monitoring instrument for the European Commission.
The satellites operate in Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO), enabling Viasat to extend its Global Xpress (GX) network beyond geostationary orbit for the first time and add polar region coverage to the network.
“We would like to thank Space Norway, our project partners, and our teams for their continued hard work to make this project a reality,” said Girish Chandran, Chief Technology Officer and President, Global Space Networks.
Viasat says that five additional Ka-band satellites are currently under construction as part of the company’s broader plan to expand global broadband capacity over the coming years.
