CARLSBAD, Calif., April 12,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT),
a global communications company, and Bahrain Telecommunication
Company ("Batelco"), the leading digital solutions provider in the
Kingdom of Bahrain, today
announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to
engage in several business-to-business (B2B) service opportunities
across the Middle East and
North Africa ("MENA") region.
The non-binding MOU between Viasat and Batelco focuses on the
potential commercialization and distribution of satellite broadband
connectivity to businesses in the MENA region.
The MOU also addresses exploring other potential service
opportunities including:
- Hybrid connectivity solutions combining satellite and
terrestrial broadband for business continuity services;
- Corporate local area network (LAN) extension services to remote
offices using satellite broadband connectivity;
- SD-WAN services to optimize the delivery of business
applications over multiple access networks;
- Temporary satellite broadband connectivity for special
projects, events or disaster relief efforts;
- Mobile-to-mobile and Internet of Things (IoT) B2B
applications;
- Use of satellite connectivity for mobile backhaul to remote
sites.
Viasat and Batelco seek to leverage satellite broadband capacity
from Viasat's current satellite systems, with plans to evolve to
the ViaSat-3 satellite platform, once launched and operational. As
a first step of the MOU, the companies expect to implement a
proof-of-concept trial within the next several months.
Peter Langkilde, Viasat's general
manager, Broadband Services, Europe, Middle
East and Africa stated,
"Viasat is on a path to bring high-quality broadband connectivity
to the world. By signing a MOU with Batelco, we can strategically
explore various business synergies and collaborations with a proven
market leader in the MENA region—ahead of the launch of our
next-generation ViaSat-3 satellite constellation. We recognize
Batelco shares a similar customer philosophy—to deliver a superior
customer experience—and we're looking forward to discovering new
opportunities for our advanced B2B broadband services."
Abdulla Danesh, Enterprise
General Manager added, "At Batelco we pride ourselves in bringing
the latest in technology to our customers, and we believe that this
opportunity with Viasat will deliver just that. Leveraging Viasat's
advanced satellite technology and our expertise in the market will
enable us to provide cutting-edge solutions for enterprise
customers in the region- a venture we are very excited about."
About Bahrain Telecommunication Company
Batelco
(Bahrain Telecommunications Company), listed on the Bahrain Bourse,
is the leading digital communications solutions provider in the
Kingdom of Bahrain. The Company's
comprehensive portfolio includes state-of-the-art solutions
including voice and data, e-commerce solutions, datacenter, and
cloud services, and more. Batelco serves the government,
enterprise, consumer, and global markets in one of the most
competitive environments in the MENA region. Supporting the
Kingdom's 'Vision 2030', Batelco is committed to improving business
operations and individual lives through continuously enhancing its
products and services in line with the ongoing advancement in
technology. To Learn more about Batelco, visit: www.batelco.com.
About Viasat
Viasat is a global communications
company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be
connected. For more than 35 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
regarding the parties' expectations regarding the terms and
potential benefits of the MOU or the proposed definitive agreements
between Viasat and Batelco; the parties' expectations
regarding the satellite-based B2B market in the MENA region;
and the future rollout and growth of ViaSat-3 in MENA. The MOU is
non-binding and there can be no assurance that the parties will
actually reach a definitive agreement on any service opportunities
as a result of entering into the MOU. Readers are cautioned
that actual results could differ materially and adversely from
those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that
could cause actual results to differ include: the ability and
willingness of the parties to enter into binding, definitive
documentation with respect to the B2B services and other agreements
contemplated by the MOU and the terms of any such definitive
documentation; the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of
the MOU or any such definitive documentation; risks associated with
the construction, launch and operation of satellites, including the
effect of any anomaly, operational failure or degradation in
satellite performance; general economic, financial, legal,
political and business conditions and changes in domestic and
foreign markets; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our
business, suppliers, consumers, customers, and employees or the
overall economy; reduced demand for products and services as a
result of continued constraints on capital spending by customers;
changes in relationships with, or the financial condition of, key
customers or suppliers; the effect of adverse regulatory changes;
introduction of new technologies and other factors affecting the
communications and B2B services industries 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 © 2022 Viasat, Inc. All rights reserved. Viasat,
the Viasat logo and the Viasat signal are registered trademarks 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.