Westar Satellite Services LP (“Westar”) is a privately held Delaware Limited Partnership. It is one of the longest established satellite communications companies in North America. In 1973 the company got its start in satellite distribution of content as part of the Western Union Company. Westar supported uplink and downlink of voice, data, and video using the Western Union owned WESTAR satellites, the first US domestic satellite system.

External links:

• History of the Westar program on NASA's website

• Video  of the launch of Westar VI Satellite from the Space Shuttle

• Technical Specs of Westar 1

Western Union expanded its satellite business by purchasing CPI Microwave which used its wireless terrestrial distribution capabilities to feed content to the satellite facilities.

Micronet purchased Western Union assets including the former CPI Microwave and satellite facilities in 1989. Micronet expanded the video distribution network into the Northeast Corridor serving media companies in NY, NJ, Philadelphia, Boston, DC and the major media companies.

In 1998, American Radio bought Micronet and later changed its name to American Tower Corporation. The satellite and terrestrial transport business of American Tower Corporation became known as ATC Teleports, and in 2001 the name was changed to Verestar.

Westar purchased part of the Verestar assets in 2005 from SES-Americom and the Verestar estate. Westar continues to purchase terrestrial and satellite communications assets in North America (see our Business Development section).