SÃO PAULO, July 10, 2019
/PRNewswire/ -- Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global
communications company, announced today the launch of Community
Wi-Fi trials in Brazil. The
Community Wi-Fi hotspot initiative is focused on providing
high-speed, affordable, satellite broadband connectivity to people
where internet connections are slow or non-existent. Beginning in
July 2019, Viasat will launch a trial
program, deploying free Community Wi-Fi hotspots, with speeds up to
25 Mbps, in 20 unserved or underserved communities in the state of
São Paulo. The Company intends to expand the service to
Brazil's Northeast region later
this year.
Brazil will be the second
country to receive Viasat's Community Wi-Fi hotspot service, which
was officially launched in 2018 in Mexico. Currently, more than 1.5 million
Mexicans living in communities that previously had little or no
internet connectivity, are now within walking distance to a Viasat
Community Wi-Fi hotspot.
Viasat's Community Wi-Fi hotspot service is highly-scalable.
It can be deployed with minimal local infrastructure
investment, in order to quickly bring cost-effective internet
service to locations where large gaps exist between demand,
affordability and availability of internet services. Service can be
installed in a few hours at strategic locations within a community.
Typical installations are conducted in partnership with a
centrally-located community business (e.g. general store), with
internet services sold in either data or time-based packages, and
availability of those services reaching deep into the community
footprint.
"There are millions of Brazilians that have little or no
opportunity for quality internet access, either because of the lack
of terrestrial infrastructure or because the internet service
offered in their communities is too expensive," said Kevin Cohen, managing director, Global Community
Wi-Fi, Viasat. "By launching Community Wi-Fi in Brazil, we are providing a way for Brazilians
to connect to the internet at affordable prices. They can
communicate with family and friends, access educational study
materials, participate in e-healthcare initiatives, enhance their
career opportunities and even participate in e-commerce and online
banking programs."
The satellite-enabled Community Wi-Fi service leverages the
Telebras-owned SGDC-1 satellite, which operates in the 18/28 GHz
spectrum band. In February 2018,
Viasat entered into an agreement with Telebras for the commercial
use of the satellite, serving initiatives such as Viasat's
Community Wi-Fi, residential and business internet and in-flight
connectivity. The partnership with Telebras also includes serving
public schools, healthcare units and other public services under
the Brazilian e-government initiative Governo Eletrônico - Serviço
de Atendimento ao Cidadão (GESAC) of the Ministry of Science,
Technology, Innovation and Communications (MCTIC).
Lisa Scalpone, vice president and
general manager of Viasat do Brasil added, "We are fully committed to help
Brazil close its digital gap by
connecting millions of people in the country to high-quality
internet, no matter where they are. We want everyone to have access
to the same knowledge and opportunities, to have a voice and
actively participate in the global community. Today's Community
Wi-Fi trial launch is an important step to connecting all of
Brazil."
Viasat is working with strategic partners for the roll-out of
its Community Wi-Fi initiative, including partners like Visiontec,
announced in early June. Visiontec is helping with the installation
and maintenance of the Community Wi-Fi infrastructure at the 20
trial sites. Internet connectivity is expected to be provided as a
free service for the duration of the trial program.
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 Statement
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 Viasat's plan to scale its internet offering in Brazil,
and the affordability, coverage, speed of service, timing and other
benefits expected from Viasat's Community Wi-Fi service. 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: contractual problems;
product defects; manufacturing issues or delays; regulatory issues;
technologies that do not perform according to
expectations; Viasat's ability to realize the anticipated
benefits of the SGDC-1 satellite; risks associated with the
operation of Telebras' satellite, including the effect of any
anomaly, operational failure or degradation in satellite
performance; and increased competition and other factors affecting
the communications 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.