GENEVA, May 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- (EBACE, European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, ViaSat Stand #T100) -- ViaSat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global broadband services and technology company, announced today an updated in-flight connectivity service plan for large cabin business jet users. The Company also unveiled an advanced migration plan for business jet customers that want to upgrade their current system to the more advanced Ka-band broadband service, based on ViaSat's latest generation ViaSat-2 technology and satellite system.

Doubling Current In-flight Connectivity Speeds 
ViaSat is proud to bring business jet users a new in-flight connectivity service plan that will support even more users, more devices and more applications when in-flight. While ViaSat's current service plan (offering 2 Mbps download speeds) supports full internet streaming, web browsing, email and more, the plan announced today doubles download speeds to 4 Mbps, enables even more devices to simultaneously access the ViaSat network and provides a better quality of service for streaming content in high definition as compared to standard definition. Competitive service offerings are just now catching up to ViaSat's first-generation Ku-band service and older L-band systems have fallen considerably behind, offering system speeds that are more than nine times slower. All ViaSat data plans are a fixed monthly fee, allowing customers to have greater cost savings and predictability over traditional 'per megabyte' plans.

Easy Upgrade to ViaSat's Fastest Ka-band Service
ViaSat also made strong progress on the development of its next-generation Ka-band in-flight connectivity equipment for the large cabin business jet market. The Company has successfully demonstrated its Global Aero Terminal 5510 shipset (Ka-band antenna and modem). The new terminal has operated over-the-air across ViaSat's Ka-band satellite system, which means the shipset will tap into the highest capacity satellite network in the world, giving business aviation customers access to the fastest industry speeds.

Expected to be certified in the second half of 2017, ViaSat's equipment will enable the industry's best data plans with peak rates of 16 Mbps on all plans and access to both Ka- and Ku- data included in one low monthly service fee. ViaSat offers the highest committed information rates on comparable plans.

In addition, the new Ka-band shipset has the same compact, sleek footprint as ViaSat's current terminal, which is significantly smaller than the competition. This means multiple advantages over competing systems:

• Enhanced Cost Savings: Due to the smaller size of the ViaSat system, the overall installed system weight can be significantly lower, offering fuel savings.
• Better Cabin Space Management: The shipset does not require space in the luggage compartment, as the system was designed to be installed in the non-pressurized areas of the aircraft. Competing systems occupy room in the tail and the luggage or other pressurized areas.
• Added Redundancy: The size allows room for ViaSat's Ka- and Ku-band antennas to be installed together in the tail, providing a strong back-up communications network - across more than 90% of the world's most popular flight paths.

"If there's one trend that's constant, it's that business jet passengers and crew members want to use more internet-based applications across more devices simultaneous when in-flight," said Ken Peterman, president, Government Systems, ViaSat. "We are ensuring a future-proofed system for business aviation that will tap into current and future ViaSat Ka-band satellites to enable a best-in-class in-flight connectivity service. Before transitioning customers to our more advanced Ka-band service, we are putting new Ku-band service plans in place that double in-flight connectivity speeds and give even greater support for more reliable streaming onboard. Then, when our equipment is available at the end of this year, we plan to easily enable large cabin business jet passengers to join the millions of people using our high-speed, high-quality service."

Availability
Certified units of the Global Aero Terminal 5510 shipset will be available for early access partners and customers in the second half of 2017, with volume production units available in early 2018.

About ViaSat
ViaSat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT) keeps the world connected. As a global broadband services and technology company, ViaSat ensures consumers, businesses, governments and military personnel have communications access - anywhere - whether on the ground or in-flight. The Company's innovations in designing highest-capacity satellites and secure ground infrastructure and terminal technologies coupled with its international network of managed Wi-Fi hotspots enable ViaSat to deliver a best available network that extends the reach and accessibility of broadband internet service, globally. For more information visit ViaSat at:  www.viasat.com, or follow the Company on social media:  Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

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 statements about the timing of availability, plans and speeds achieved through the ViaSat Global Aero Terminal 5510 shipset. 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: ViaSat's ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the ViaSat-2 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 satellite platform; and risks associated with 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; 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 and technology sectors 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.

Copyright © 2017 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.

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SOURCE ViaSat, Inc.