United Airlines, Viasat Sign New Contract to Bring High-Speed Connectivity to New Aircraft
CARLSBAD, Calif., Feb. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company, announced today a new contract with United Airlines (UAL) to bring Viasat's latest generation in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) system to more than 70 aircraft, including at least 58 of United's new Boeing 737MAX aircraft.
Viasat will serve as the direct in-flight internet service provider to United, deploying its most advanced IFEC system, in order to provide United customers access to fast, reliable internet connections from the air—for accessing their favorite websites to connecting with key business applications such as a corporate VPN and secure email. Viasat's IFEC system will also power United's Private Screening entertainment option, which offers customers access to hundreds of entertainment titles from its onboard library direct to their own devices.
"We're pleased to expand our relationship with United, now providing direct internet and entertainment services to them and their customers," said Don Buchman, vice president and general manager, Commercial Aviation, Viasat. "We're focused on optimizing customer satisfaction through great connectivity and entertainment. Our goal is to ensure United's customers are fully connected and enjoying their onboard connectivity and entertainment experiences."
United will tap into Viasat's advanced high-capacity Ka-band satellite system, which will include the ViaSat-1, ViaSat-2 and ViaSat-3 satellite platforms. These capacity-rich satellite platforms will enable Viasat to deliver fast, high quality in-flight internet service to each connected device on the aircraft. This technology will allow United to deliver dependable internet connections gate-to-gate and perform over-the-air content uploads to its onboard entertainment system, ensuring its library has the most current content available.
Viasat is recognized as offering forward-thinking, capable and scalable connectivity service, allowing more customers to access high-quality content on more devices and across more aircraft simultaneously. Over the coming months, United will begin installing Viasat's IFEC system on its airframes, demonstrating its commitment to the onboard customer experience.
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 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, among others, statements that refer to United Airlines and the time-to-market for existing and new aircraft types to be outfitted with the latest generation Viasat equipment, the speed and reliability of the internet connections; the expected future capacity and performance of Viasat's in-flight internet system, and ViaSat-2 and ViaSat-3 class satellite service commencement dates, capacity and available coverage. 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 ViaSat-2 and ViaSat-3 satellite platform; unexpected expenses or delays related to the satellite 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 ViaSat-2 and ViaSat-3 satellite platforms; and risks associated with service launch of ViaSat-2, the construction, launch and operation of ViaSat-3 and Viasat's other satellites, including the effect of any anomaly, operational failure or degradation in satellite performance; 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; Viasat's level of indebtedness and ability to comply with applicable debt covenants; and other factors as may be detailed from time to time in Viasat's public announcements and SEC filings. 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.
SOURCE Viasat, Inc.
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