CARLSBAD, Calif., Jan. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Viasat
Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company,
announced today it has begun beta service on the ViaSat-2
satellite, and affirmed plans for full commercial service launch in
February 2018. The ViaSat-2 satellite
system is expected to significantly improve speeds, reduce costs
and expand the footprint of broadband services across North America, Central America, the Caribbean, a portion of northern South America, as well as the primary
aeronautical and maritime routes across the Atlantic Ocean between
North America and Europe.
To-date, Viasat has successfully completed a number of key
performance tests on the ViaSat-2 satellite and end-to-end network,
including demonstrating downstream speeds of over 100 Mbps to
production consumer terminals. The satellite ground network and
other networking technologies are performing better than initially
planned as measured in successful alpha testing. The satellite will
continue to undergo testing during the beta service period, as
Boeing has identified an in-orbit antenna issue, which has caused
some spot beams to perform differently than they did during ground
testing. Boeing, with Viasat's support, is working to determine the
root cause of the issue and to identify corrective measures.
Based on measured data and analysis of the current in-orbit
performance of the satellite as well as the network as a whole,
Viasat believes the issue will not impact the coverage area of the
satellite, or materially impact the planned services and the
expected financial results from the ViaSat-2 system.
Mark Dankberg, chairman and CEO,
Viasat said, "Our advanced ground network, coupled with the
flexibility features of the ViaSat-2 satellite, will help us manage
the impact from the identified antenna issue if needed. We look
forward to launching commercial service next month and bringing new
higher-speed fixed and mobile services to market."
The Company will provide an update on the status of the ViaSat-2
service launch plans and ViaSat-1 based market testing of these
plans at the next regularly scheduled earnings conference call,
planned for early February 2018.
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, among others, statements about the timing,
performance and benefits associated with the launch of commercial
service on the ViaSat-2 satellite, the in-orbit antenna issue on
the satellite, as well as the impact, if any, on coverage,
capacity, performance and financial results. 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 failure of the ViaSat-2 satellite to
successfully complete in-orbit testing; the Company's ability to
successfully implement its business plan for broadband satellite
services on its anticipated timeline, or at all; risks associated
with the testing and operation of the ViaSat-2 satellite,
including the effect of any anomaly, operational failure or
degradation in satellite or ground segment performance; and the
Company's ability to realize the anticipated benefits of
the ViaSat-2 satellite. 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 © 2018 Viasat, Inc. All rights reserved. All other
product or company names mentioned are used for identification
purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective
owners. Viasat is a registered trademark of Viasat,
Inc.
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SOURCE Viasat, Inc.