ViaSat Adds Asia Broadcast Satellite ABS-7 Ka-band to Services Coverage

CARLSBAD, Calif. and HONG KONG, March 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT) and Asia Broadcast Satellite have entered into a multi-year agreement to provide Ka-band satellite service in key areas of the Middle East using the ABS-7 satellite. The bandwidth will be used for fixed and mobile satellite services as a part of ViaSat's continuing expansion of its Yonder® mobile satellite network from global Ku-band coverage to growing Ka-band coverage in key international markets. ABS-7 (formerly Koreasat-3) provides 600 MHz of Ka-band capacity suitable for mobile broadband services, cellular backhaul, VSAT services, and US/NATO government requirements in the Middle East.

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The Yonder mobile broadband service is one of ViaSat's fastest growing segments, serving business jets, maritime vessels, and government and defense customers around the world. The mobile global network offers higher speeds, lower airtime pricing, and greater bandwidth availability than other mobile services through smaller and lower cost terminals than conventional mobile Ku-band VSAT systems. Ka-band extends the benefits of the network even further, offering more attractive airtime pricing and even higher speeds.

"This additional Ka-band capacity on ABS-7 will support and strengthen the Yonder® mobile satellite network as it expands into markets in need of global connections in the Middle East and Asia," said Tom Choi, CEO of ABS. "We are very excited about this strategic collaboration with ViaSat."  

"This partnership with ABS enables us to work together to satisfy the growing need for satellite services in the Middle East and Asia," said Paul Baca, VP and General Manager of ViaSat's Global Mobile Broadband business.  "This Ka capacity coupled with our small VR-12 airborne terminals enables higher transmission speeds and lower air time pricing for our Yonder® mobile subscribers."

About ViaSat (www.viasat.com)

ViaSat produces innovative satellite and other digital communication products that enable fast, secure, and efficient communications to virtually any location. The company provides networking products and managed network services for enterprise IP applications; is a key supplier of network-centric military communications and encryption technologies and products to the U.S. and allied governments; is the primary technology partner for gateway and customer-premises equipment for consumer and mobile satellite broadband services; and owns WildBlue, the premier Ka-band satellite broadband service provider. ViaSat also offers design capabilities and a number of complementary products including monolithic microwave integrated circuits and modules, DVB-S2 satellite communication components, video data link systems, data acceleration and compression, and mobile satellite antenna systems. Based in Carlsbad, Calif., ViaSat has established a number of worldwide locations for customer service, network operations, and technology development.

About Asia Broadcast Satellite (www.absatellite.net)

ABS is one of the fastest growing premium satellite operators in the world. ABS serves a global customer base with representatives in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America. ABS offers a complete range of end-to-end systems, including direct-to-home (DTH) and cable TV distribution (CATV), cellular backhaul, VSAT, and Internet backbone services with diverse IP transit through its European and Asian Internet gateways. ABS hosts over 175 TV channels making it one of the fastest growing and top satellite distribution platforms and broadcasters of TV channels in the Asia Pacific.

ABS is rapidly expanding its satellite fleet and business worldwide through the recent acquisitions of ABS- 7 (formerly Koreasat 3), ABS-1A and ABS-5. ABS has also completed a strategic cooperation with Eutelsat for the ABS-1B/W75 satellite at 75°E. ABS is planning the launch of a new state-of-the-art high powered satellite, ABS-2, that is scheduled to become operational in 2013. ABS-2 will be located at the 75 degrees East Longitude, ABS' prime orbital location covering four-fifths of the world's population across the Indian Ocean region.

ABS is committed to maintaining its aggressive growth through the announcement of more strategic partnerships, acquisitions and further additions to its satellite fleet.

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 that refer to business growth, improved performance and economics, greater data speeds, and lower pricing. ViaSat wishes to caution you that there are some factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including but not limited to: contractual problems, product defects, manufacturing issues or delays, regulatory issues, technologies not being developed according to anticipated schedules, or that do not perform according to expectations; and increased competition and other factors affecting the communications industry generally. 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.

Yonder is a registered trademark of ViaSat Inc.

SOURCE ViaSat Inc.