O3b Networks Limited, developers of a new, global, high-speed, low latency, fiber-like satellite-based Internet service for telecom ops and ISPs in emerging markets, has signed a contract with ViaSat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT) for the production and installation of Ka-band infrastructure. The value of the contract is approximately $47 million.

ViaSat will supply gateway teleports and high speed IP trunking terminals to O3b Networks, including full-motion tracking antenna systems for the Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites, high-speed modems, monitor and control equipment, system development, and installation. Teleport installation is scheduled to be complete ahead of the planned launch of the O3b service in early 2012. Each teleport will include three ViaSat 7.3-meter antennas and each IP trunking terminal will include two 4.5-meter tracking antennas together with high-speed modems and other baseband equipment. The O3b IP trunking terminal is designed for Internet backhaul by telecom carriers, operating at rates from 50 Mbps to 1 Gbps. ViaSat will develop a new 4.5-meter MEO antenna and a very high-speed DVB-S2 modem.