ViaSat Inc. and Boeing completed the preliminary design review (PDR) for the first two ViaSat-3 satellites on November 16, 2016, according to a press release by the companies.

The ViaSat-3 class of Ka-Band, geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellites is being designed to deliver more than 1 Tbps network capacity, with the flexibility to dynamically direct capacity to where customers are located. The first two satellites will cover the Americas and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), respectively. A third satellite will cover the Asia Pacific region and complete ViaSat's global coverage.

ViaSat is building the satellite payload and will integrate the payload into the payload module provided by Boeing and test the integrated payload. Boeing is providing a scalable 702 satellite platform and will handle system integration and test, launch vehicle integration and mission operations.

The PDR is a key milestone in the development process, helping assure that the ViaSat-3 satellites will meet all performance specifications and requirements on orbit. ViaSat and Boeing will now begin detailed design work on each satellite. The first flight hardware is scheduled to arrive in ViaSat's Tempe, Ariz. satellite integration facility in late 2017, and the first ViaSat-3 satellite is planned to launch in 2019.

Keven Lippert, executive vice president for satellite systems at ViaSat said, “Almost one year into the ViaSat-3 program and we are on schedule with a solid satellite design.”

Mark Spiwak, president of Boeing Satellite Systems International, said, “The ViaSat-3 class of satellites are the highest power payloads a Boeing-built 702 satellite platform has ever supported, coupled with the efficiency of all-electric propulsion.”