New Dual-band Ku/Ka Terminal Enables In-flight Network Switching Across Commercial Ku- and Ka-band Satellite Networks

CARLSBAD, Calif., Sept. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In-flight network switching between commercial Ku- and Ka-band satellites has been successfully demonstrated by ViaSat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), using its innovative dual-band terminal and a new radome. The test flights, conducted in July and August on a commercial 757-200 aircraft, demonstrated the state of the art in broadband enroute communications with the aircraft transitioning among multiple satellite beams from six satellites and three Ku- and Ka-band networks.

"For enroute airborne missions, seamless roaming on the best available broadband network can assure our customers continuous operation on a resilient enterprise network," said Ken Peterman, VP ViaSat Government Systems. "This demonstration was an important step in realizing that vision."

The test flights validated ViaSat's "best available service" premise, a concept that borrows from mobile cellular communications. Similar to the way a cell phone roams between 3g and 4g or LTE,  seamless satellite network-switching can benefit customers in the same way, as higher performance satellite coverage areas are introduced to new regions. The flights proved the feasibility of switching between commercial Ku- and Ka-band satellites, and between different broadband airborne networks. The airborne broadband terminal integrated a ViaSat Ku/Ka-band antenna with ViaSat mobile and broadband modems, and a third-party modem.

Over the past year, ViaSat Exede^® in-flight internet has enabled broadband satcom communications on 200 commercial aircraft operating over the ViaSat high-capacity Ka-band satellite network in North America. The company has also significantly expanded its global Ku- broadband airborne network to address enroute connectivity for business aircraft. Multiple service tiers are available that provide increasing levels of priority access to assure performance when and where it's needed.

System testing encompassed a number of typical applications for enroute connectivity. Testing showed that the dual-band system offered high-performance communications with these attributes:

• Concurrent operation of networking applications such as VoIP, HD videoconferencing, email, internet, messaging, and very large file transfers.
• In-flight link speeds up to 29 Mbps to and 7 Mbps from the aircraft on these Ku- and Ka-band commercial satellites: SES-1, SES-2, AMC-16, ViaSat-1, WildBlue-1, and ANIK-F2.
• Operation using data protocols including UDP, TCP, Web, and FTP to gather performance information.
• Video streaming including live HD television and HD video on-demand movies.

For additional information, please contact ViaSat at 760-476-2777.

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, which feature ViaSat-1, the world's highest capacity satellite; 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.

Safe Harbor 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 seamless satellite network-switching and the performance of network or services.  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: 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; negative audits by the U.S. government; continued turmoil in the global business environment and economic conditions; delays in approving U.S. government budgets and cuts in government defense expenditures; ViaSat's reliance on U.S. government contracts, and on a small number of contracts which account for a significant percentage of ViaSat's revenues; 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 ViaSat's products; increased competition and other factors affecting the communications and defense 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.

Exede is a registered trademark of ViaSat Inc.

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SOURCE ViaSat Inc.