HAMBURG, Germany, April 2, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- (Aircraft
Interiors Expo—Viasat Stand 3A10) — Viasat
Inc., (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company,
announced today the introduction of its second-generation
Ku-/Ka-band shipset, inclusive of an advanced hybrid antenna and
complementary radome. The latest dual-band system, aimed at the
commercial wide-body aircraft market, will keep passengers and crew
connected across commercial Ku- and Ka-band Geosynchronous and
Non-Geosynchronous satellite networks, virtually anywhere they fly
around the globe. The shipset sets into motion an accelerated
migration path for commercial airlines to operate on Viasat's
global network. It immediately enables worldwide roaming
connectivity for new or retrofit aircraft – serving a large and
growing portion of their routes on the fastest Ka-band networks,
and the balance on global widebeam or spotbeam Ku satellites.
Airlines can steadily migrate a greater proportion of their routes
to the faster, more economical Ka-band service enabled by a growing
array of partner satellites as well as the global ViaSat-3
constellation planned for launch in 2021 and 2022.
Viasat has years of expertise in delivering dual-band antenna
systems to the global market. The Company's first-generation
shipset served airframes ranging from commercial narrow-body planes
to larger senior leader government aircraft.
"Hybrid antenna systems are not new to Viasat—we have nearly two
decades of experience deploying and managing these systems," said
Don Buchman, vice president and
general manager, Commercial Aviation, Viasat. "Similar to the first
generation, Viasat's latest dual-band system promotes smooth
transitions among multiple satellite beams across Ku- and Ka-band
networks. Our next-generation Ku-/Ka-band terminal is the most
capable and flexible solution for commercial wide-body
aircraft—giving them a global solution today—with piece of mind
that the technology deployed will be forward-compatible with the
innovations in spacecraft technology of tomorrow."
Key benefits
- For airlines: Viasat is providing a forward-compatible hybrid
shipset solution that leverages today's Ku- and Ka-band networks,
but enables airlines to easily transition to the faster, more
reliable, more economical Ka-band networks of tomorrow.
- For passengers and crew: Viasat's hybrid technology allows for
continuous connectivity when in-flight.
How it works
In-flight, customers will have access to
all the Ka-band satellites currently participating in Viasat's
global network (WildBue-1, Anik-F2, ViaSat-1, ViaSat-2 and KA-SAT,
as well as nbn's SkyMuster I and II and other current and future
partner satellites). When out of Ka-band coverage, service will
switch to the Ku-band network. Viasat is continuing to add Ka-band
capacity to its global network through partnerships and via its
ViaSat-3 global Ka-band constellation, comprised of three
ultra-high capacity satellites that are expected to offer complete
visible Earth coverage. The first two ViaSat-3 class satellites are
under construction to serve the Americas and the Europe, Middle
East and Africa (EMEA)
markets, respectively. These two satellites are expected to be
launched by the 2021 timeframe. Viasat has also recently commenced
a third ViaSat-3 class satellite for Asia
Pacific (APAC), expected to be launched in the 2022
period—enabling full global Ka-band coverage.
About Viasat
Viasat is a global communications company
that believes everyone and everything in the world can be
connected. For more than 30 years, Viasat has helped shape how
consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world
communicate. Today, the Company is developing the ultimate global
communications network to power high-quality, secure, affordable,
fast connections to impact people's lives anywhere they are—on the
ground, in the air or at sea. To learn more about Viasat,
visit: www.viasat.com, go to Viasat's Corporate Blog, or
follow the Company on social media
at: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains
forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbors
created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. Forward looking statements include statements
about seamless satellite network-switching; the performance of the
Ku- or Ka-band networks or services; availability and launch timing
of the global ViaSat-3 constellation; and the forward-compatibility
of Viasat's shipset, with minimal capital investment. Readers are
cautioned that actual results could differ materially from those
expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could
cause actual results to differ include: the ability to realize the
anticipated benefits of the ViaSat-3 satellite platform,
unexpected expenses or delays related to the satellite system, the
ability to successfully implement Viasat's business plan
for broadband satellite services on Viasat's anticipated
timeline or at all, including with respect to the ViaSat-3
satellite platform; risks associated with the construction, launch
and operation of ViaSat-3 and Viasat's other
satellites, including the effect of any anomaly, operational
failure or degradation in satellite performance contractual
problems, product defects, manufacturing issues or delays,
regulatory issues, technologies not being developed according to
anticipated schedules, or that do not perform according to
expectations, and increased competition and other factors affecting
the connectivity market, generally. In addition, please refer to
the risk factors contained in Viasat's SEC filings available
at www.sec.gov, including Viasat's most recent Annual Report
on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made.
Viasat undertakes no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements for any reason.
Copyright © 2019 Viasat, Inc. All rights
reserved. Viasat is a registered trademark
of Viasat, Inc. The Viasat logo is a trademark
of Viasat, Inc. All other product or company names
mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be
trademarks of their respective owners.
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SOURCE Viasat, Inc.