Mission expected to provide high-speed
broadband services to air, land and sea users in the Arctic region
and in Northern latitudes.
CARLSBAD., Calif., June 29,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a
global leader in satellite communications, and Space Norway, today
announced that the first of the two satellites for the Arctic
Satellite Broadband Mission, has successfully completed thermal
vacuum testing, The new satellites, which will carry Viasat's GX10A
and B payloads, aim to connect users in the Far North with
high-speed broadband in 2024.
The mission, managed by Space Norway Heosat, will see two
satellites deployed in a highly elliptical orbit (HEO) above the
Earth. Operating in an oval-shaped orbit around the poles, the
satellites will speed up when over the South Pole and slow down
above the North Pole, tagging each other to deliver persistent
coverage of the northernmost region of Earth.
For Viasat, the GX10A and B payloads aboard these two HEO
satellites are expected to extend Global Xpress, the company's
global mobile broadband service, which it now operates following
the recent acquisition of Inmarsat. The two payloads are designed
to seamlessly operate as part of the wider Global Xpress
constellation, to expand the current coverage of Global Xpress and
further the network - which is currently delivered from satellite
in geostationary orbits - into new orbital paths. The satellites
will be the new combined company's first satellites not in
geostationary orbit, as it branches out into multi-orbit,
cooperative networks to provide seamless global connectivity.
Today, the Arctic Circle represents a rapidly growing
connectivity region for governments, shipping companies, commercial
airlines, and scientists. In early 2023, the UK Government launched
its 'Looking North' arctic strategy which details the strategic
geopolitical importance of the region for security and climate
change. Also, this year Norway
began its chairship of the Arctic Council, which is an
intergovernmental forum comprised of eight arctic states to further
cooperation in the region. Both HEO satellites will provide a
revolutionary upgrade in coverage as communications demand
continues to grow.
"Arctic connectivity is urgent because it supports scientific
research, enables new trade routes, and underpins strategic
government action in a new geopolitical landscape," said Guru
Gowrappan, President, Viasat. "This project is about developing our
networks ahead of that need by providing high-quality mobile
broadband services for travel in and out of the Arctic. I would
like to thank Space Norway for their continued collaboration as we
enable meaningful connections for a better, safer, more connected
world."
"For decades, there has been an unmet need for broadband
communications in the Arctic, and we are now establishing a
strategically important capacity for everyone operating there, be
it on the ground, at sea or in the air," said Dag H. Stølan, CEO,
Space Norway. "The new system will provide continuous coverage for
the Arctic Circle and beyond. Our focus in this mission is the
value it creates for civil users such as ships and aircraft, and
governmental users such as rescue services and the coastguard, as
well as national and allied forces. We appreciate the world class
expertise and experience from Viasat joining us in this programme
and to bring satellite broadband coverage to in the Arctic."
About Viasat
Viasat is a global communications
company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be
connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our
mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and
militaries around the world communicate and connect. Viasat is
developing the ultimate global communications network to power
high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to
positively impact people's lives anywhere they are—on the ground,
in the air or at sea, while building a sustainable future in space.
On May 30, 2023, Viasat completed its
acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and
resources of the two companies to create a new global
communications partner. Learn more at www.viasat.com, the
Viasat News Room or follow us on
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube.
Copyright © 2023 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.
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, among others, statements that refer to growing
demand for satellite communications in the arctic regions, the
timing, coverage and other features of the Arctic Satellite
Broadband Mission, the future coverage and features of Global
Xpress, and Viasat's expansion into multi-orbit, cooperative
networks. 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: our ability to realize the anticipated
benefits of the GX10a and b class satellites and any future
satellite we may construct or acquire; our ability to successfully
implement our business plan for our broadband services on our
anticipated timeline or at all; risks associated with the
construction, launch and operation of satellites, including the
effect of any anomaly, operational failure or degradation in
satellite performance; our ability to successfully develop,
introduce and sell new technologies, changes in the global business
environment and economic conditions; 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; our reliance on
a limited number of third parties to manufacture and supply our
products; increased competition; introduction of new technologies
and other factors affecting the communications industry generally;
the effect of adverse regulatory changes (including changes
affecting spectrum availability or permitted uses) on our ability
to sell or deploy our products and services; changes in the way
others use spectrum; our inability to access additional spectrum,
use spectrum for additional purposes, and/or operate satellites at
additional orbital locations; competing uses of the same spectrum
or orbital locations that we utilize or seek to utilize. In
addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in our SEC
filings available at www.sec.gov, including our 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.
We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements for any reason.
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SOURCE Viasat, Inc.