Telecomunicações Brasileiras S.A. - TELEBRÁS teamed up with global communications company ViaSat Inc. to deliver high-speed internet to unserved and underserved communities, health clinics, schools and hospitals in Brazil.

The partnership will combine the Ka-band capacity of the TELEBRÁS-owned and controlled satellite, the SGDC-1, with ViaSat's network and infrastructure, the company said Feb. 26.

While financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed, the companies said the arrangement is based on a success-based revenue-share model in which TELEBRÁS expects newly enabled market opportunities to potentially generate more than US$1 billion in revenues for the company over the next 10 years.

ViaSat equipment started shipping to Brazil in February, while initial service is expected to commence in April.

TELEBRÁS is a Brazilian state-controlled public telecommunications company.