New Highly-Integrated Space/Ground System From ViaSat and Boeing Designed to Accelerate Spread of High-Speed Broadband Worldwide

CARLSBAD and EL SEGUNDO, Calif., March 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Making it easier for operators and service providers to deliver affordable, high-speed broadband services worldwide, ViaSat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT) and The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) are teaming together to offer the ViaSat Flexible Broadband System. This system brings a new level of flexibility, high-capacity, and affordability to service providers, enabling them to start with a smaller investment, focus capacity to match the bandwidth demand in their markets, and scale their infrastructure as expansion is needed.

The Flexible Broadband System is designed to provide the industry leading satellite bandwidth economics in a more affordable package, tailored to regional operators. The system is based on the most advanced ViaSat High-Capacity Satellite System, the same flexible networking system developed for the ViaSat-2 satellite scheduled to launch next year. ViaSat and Boeing are also adapting a ViaSat-2 based payload to the Boeing 702SP (small platform) satellite bus to provide affordable and flexible satellite broadband anywhere in the world.   

"The advantage of using geostationary satellites to spread broadband availability worldwide is the ability to focus capacity to where it is needed, rather than blanket the entire globe with a thin layer of capacity regardless of population density or demand," said Mark Dankberg, ViaSat chairman and CEO. "Our new system will add another dimension to that capability, with a networking system that can quickly shift or add capacity to markets where demand begins to grow or change."

"The blending of technologies – a high throughput payload with the economic efficiency of the Boeing all-electric propulsion 702SP satellite – provides the lowest cost per bit of capacity," said Mark Spiwak, president of Boeing Satellite Systems International, Inc. "The joint product offering between Boeing and ViaSat helps address a market need for regional operators."

Services based on ViaSat networking technology can effectively compete with terrestrial service alternatives. The new Flexible Broadband Network uses a reinvented system architecture to deliver cost-savings, more flexible capacity allocation, and continuous technology upgrades, including:

• Flexible design for broad coverage and the ability to shift or add bandwidth capacity anywhere within the satellite coverage area.
• Compact, next-generation RF Satellite Access Nodes, with an overall footprint size similar to cellular wireless towers, replacing large teleport/gateway installations increasing fault tolerance, reducing hardware, and cutting costs.
• Dynamic system architecture for auto shifting traffic among gateways, increasing operational performance and virtually eliminating network down time.
• ViaSat Satellite Terminal Reference Design that makes core terminal components available for third-party terminal manufacturing.
• Fast rollout of fixed, nomadic, and mobile services using ViaSat Network Services, a cloud-based Platform as a Service, for constant state-of-the-art network performance.

For more information on the Flexible Broadband System, contact ViaSat at [email protected].

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 performance, expected capacity, service, speeds, coverage and other features of the Flexible Broadband System, and the timing, cost, economics, flexible capacity allocation, continuous upgrades, and other benefits associated therewith. 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 broadband system, unexpected expenses or delays related to the broadband 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 broadband system; risks associated with the construction, launch and operation of satellites used to supply these new services, including the effect of any anomaly, operational failure or degradation in satellite performance; the ability to successfully develop, introduce and sell new technologies, products and services; reduced demand for products as a result of continued constraints on capital spending by customers; changes in relationships with, or the financial condition of, key customers or suppliers; reliance on a limited number of third parties to manufacture and supply products; increased competition and other factors affecting the communications industries generally; the effect of adverse regulatory changes on ViaSat's ability to sell products and services; ViaSat's level of indebtedness and ability to comply with applicable debt covenants; ViaSat's involvement in litigation, including intellectual property claims and litigation to protect proprietary technology; and ViaSat's dependence on a limited number of key employees. 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.

About ViaSat (www.viasat.com)

ViaSat creates satellite and other wireless networking systems that efficiently deliver the most bandwidth for fast, secure, and high-performance communications to any location for consumers, governments, enterprises, and the military. The company offers Exede® services in North America; worldwide mobile satellite services, including global tracking and messaging as well as high-speed in-flight internet; satellite broadband networking systems; Wi-Fi and other hotspot operations, support, and management systems; and network-centric military communication systems and cybersecurity for the U.S. and allied governments. ViaSat also offers communication system design and a number of complementary products and technologies. Based in Carlsbad, California, ViaSat employs over 3,300 people in a number of locations worldwide for technology development, customer service, and network operations.

Exede is a registered trademark of ViaSat Inc.

About Boeing Defense, Space & Security

A unit of The Boeing Company, Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Defense, Space & Security is a $31 billion business with 53,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.

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SOURCE ViaSat Inc.

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