ViaSat Unveils Second Generation Mobility Equipment to Deliver Fastest Speeds from a Satellite to an Aircraft

April 4, 2017

ViaSat Inc. has unveiled its latest generation (Gen-2) in-flight internet equipment for its advanced satellite platforms: ViaSat-2 and ViaSat-3 class satellites. The Gen-2 equipment is optimized to take full advantage of the highly-anticipated massive capacity increases from the ViaSat satellites, offering airlines even faster and higher-quality in-flight internet performance.

"What we're bringing to the in-flight internet market is so drastically different than anything else coming on the market. We're delivering a vertically-integrated system – from the satellite to the terminal and the access points on the aircraft – that is optimized to keep pace with the most powerful communications satellites in the world – ViaSat-2 and ViaSat-3," said Don Buchman, vice president and general manager, Commercial Mobility at ViaSat. "As a result, our Gen-2 equipment extracts greater productivity, performance and higher throughput levels from the integrated system, and raises the standard for delivering best performing in-flight internet and streaming experiences at scale."

The Gen-2 equipment is designed to be forward and backward compatible across ViaSat's satellite platforms, allowing airlines to meet the growing broadband demands of the fully connected aircraft. Forward and backward compatibility ensures airlines can cost-effectively deploy the Gen-2 equipment today, and take advantage of the more than 3.5 terabits per second (Tbps) of total expected future global capacity ViaSat will be bringing to market. Gen-2 compatibility will exist across all of ViaSat's satellite platforms, which includes its first generation spacecraft (ViaSat-1, WildBlue-1, Anik F2), its second generation spacecraft (ViaSat-2) and its most advanced spacecraft (ViaSat-3). Additionally, the Gen-2 equipment is compatible with most other Ka-band satellites, giving airlines greater choice in satellite solution provider.