It was advertised to be the world's highest capacity communications satellite with a throughput of 300 Gbit/s, exceeding that of HughesNet EchoStar XIX, which launched in December 2016.

The satellite provides internet service through ViaSat (Exede prior to rebranding) to North America, parts of South America, including Mexico and the Caribbean, and to air and maritime routes across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe.

[10][11] The launch date was originally set for April 25, 2017 but was delayed due to social unrest affecting the spaceport area.

Viasat spacecraft partner, Boeing Satellite Systems International, controlled and monitored ViaSat-2 throughout the orbit raising process, flying the satellite from its Mission Control Center in El Segundo, California.

[15] Problems with two of the four Ka-band antennae, leading to a less optimal coverage pattern than designed[16] have reduced throughput to 260 Gbit/s.