Cobham SATCOM and Viasat Introduce Transformational Maritime Antenna System for High-Speed Broadband Connectivity

Sea Tel 9711 Triband is the first 2.4 meter system capable of delivering true 2.4 meter high-quality internet performance across C-, Ku- and Ka-band frequencies

Washington DC, (SATELLITE 2018 – Cobham SATCOM Booth #1301 and Viasat Booth #1125), March 12, 2018 – SATELLITE 2018 marks the launch of Cobham SATCOM’s Sea Tel 9711 Triband maritime antenna system, which leverages unique technology and capabilities from global communications company Viasat Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT). The Sea Tel 9711 Triband is the world’s first and only 2.4m maritime stabilized antenna capable of delivering full 2.4m gain performance across any C-, Ku-, or Ka-band network to maximize high-speed, high-quality broadband connectivity for high-demand maritime segments, such as Cruise, Energy and Government.

The triband antenna system leverages radio frequency (RF) technology provided by Viasat to enable compatibility across any Ka-band satellite network operating in any orbit. The system offers seamless, automated electronic switching, which provides unmatched operational continuity for vessels with demanding bandwidth, reliability and coverage requirements.

The Sea Tel 9711 Triband maritime antenna system builds on the success of its predecessor, the Sea Tel 9711 IMA C/Ku system, which is positioned as today’s industry standard across the cruise and energy segments. With nearly 1,000 systems in the field, it is the most trusted 2.4m stabilized tracking platform on the market today. The Sea Tel 9711 Triband delivers the same leading radio performance and deep functionality as its predecessor, but with the added flexibility of automatic switching in seconds between all three maritime frequencies. The result is a solution that will dramatically enhance the business case for digital transformation throughout industries operating in the maritime environment.

“Our Sea Tel line of large VSAT systems has been the industry’s first choice among Global Cruise and Energy users for decades,” said Christian Kock, vice president, Maritime Business Unit, Cobham SATCOM. “The 9711 C/Ku antenna enabled a shift from speeds measured in the 10s of Mbps to closer to 1Gbps. The newer triband variant represents a leap forward, not only in terms of bandwidth potential, but also in empowering both our partners and our users to craft unconventional service packages leveraging multiple frequencies, multiple networks, multiple orbits and more. This system is a core building block for what will be the next generation of connectivity at sea.”

Antenna solutions for the growing cruise ship market
The cruise industry leads the way in harnessing IP connectivity for business gains. Over the last 18 – 24 months, a number of major cruise operators have succeeded in showing that maritime internet does not have to be any different from land-based services. Through these efforts, a number of ships today have increased their average bandwidth by as much as 2,000%, with some achieving speeds well over 1Gbps for operational, crew and guest use.

“Cruise ship connectivity is no longer just a means of enabling passengers to email, post photos and make phone calls – it’s much more than that,” said Matt Galston, senior director, Maritime Product Management at Cobham SATCOM. “It’s about a $60b/year segment of the global resort and hospitality industry investing in digital transformation. It’s about distinguishing an experience through insights gained from IoT sensors and real-time analytics. In other words, it’s about maximizing the value of your offering through greater, data-driven customer understanding. This is a trend happening throughout nearly every industry today. The Sea Tel 9711 Triband system is designed specifically to deliver that transformational capability to businesses operating anywhere on the planet.”   

High-capacity configurations
For Ka-band operation, the Sea Tel 9711 Triband will be delivered standard fit with a Viasat RF solution. This capability will enable the antenna system to operate on Viasat’s high-capacity satellite networks as well as on any current or future Ka-band satellite constellation, including those operating in Low, Medium and High elliptical orbits. To facilitate practically seamless switching between services in all bands, the new rack-mounted Triband Modem Arbitrator enables out-of-box integration of three separate modems to support different frequencies across different satellite networks all in real-time. The Modem Arbitrator is expandable to support additional modems as well as redundant datacenter configurations. 

“Cobham SATCOM’s Sea Tel line represents the gold standard for large maritime systems, and we are excited to be collaborating with them to ensure connectivity across all high-capacity satellite networks,” said Doug Abts, vice president, Global Mobility, Viasat. “Our high quality Ka-band RF components provide the bandwidth, power and flexibility to enable access to any Ka-band satellite system. Additionally, when equipped with a Viasat modem, vessels will be able to access any Viasat-enabled high-capacity satellite network including ViaSat-2, KA-SAT, ViaSat-3 and others.”

Upgrading to the latest maritime architecture
The Sea Tel 9711 features the latest 3.0 version of the proprietary Sea Tel Integrated Maritime Antenna (IMA) architecture, which in addition to delivering a number of incremental enhancements will ensure the antenna is capable of seamlessly tracking new constellations as they come online in the next three to five years. The IMA architecture features an Integrated Control Unit (ICU) as a single box electronic control solution to maintain the best and most efficient pointing accuracy. Because the Sea Tel 9711 Triband is based on the established Sea Tel technology platform, Cobham SATCOM is able to offer the ability to upgrade Sea Tel 9711 IMA C/Ku systems to full Triband capabilities.

“Our extensive experience and leadership in this size system has enabled us to offer real value to our partners by creating a path for existing 9711 IMA systems to be upgraded to Triband,” said Kirby Nell, Maritime Product Manager, Cobham SATCOM. “Most important to keep in mind today is that from mid Q2 this year all 9711 IMA systems will come standard with some key new components that allow for easy field upgradability in the future as new constellations come online.” 

About Cobham SATCOM
Providing dependable communications and internet access anywhere under the most demanding conditions. Our satellite and radio communication terminals perform in the most challenging and remote environments on land, at sea and in the air. We design and manufacture these high performance products under the AVIATOR, EXPLORER, SAILOR and Sea Tel brands providing customers with outstanding performance, value and support through our global sales and service network.

About Cobham
Cobham offers an innovative range of technologies and services to solve challenging problems in commercial, defence and security markets, from deep space to the depths of the ocean. We employ around 11,000 people primarily in the USA, UK, Europe and Australia, and have customers and partners in over 100 countries, with market leading positions in: wireless, audio, video and data communications, including satellite communications; defence electronics; air-to-air refuelling; aviation services; life support and mission equipment. The challenging and rewarding roles we offer, across a wide range of disciplines are what make Cobham a true global technology and services leader. To view our current roles visit www.cobham.com/careers

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 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, among others, statements that refer to the new Sea Tel 9711 maritime antenna system, including speed, capacity and future capabilities. 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 across satellite platforms; unexpected expenses or delays related to the antenna system; the ability to successfully implement a business plan for broadband satellite services on Cobham SATCOM or Viasat's anticipated timeline or at all; and risks associated with service launch of the new antenna, the construction, launch and operation of the antenna, including the effect of any anomaly, operational failure or degradation in 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; Cobham SATCOM and 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. Viasat is a registered trademark of Viasat, Inc. The Viasat logo is a trademark of Viasat, Inc. All other product or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Contacts:

Cobham SATCOM
Henrietta Jessen
Head of Product Marketing
+45 3955 8924
henrietta.jessen@cobham.com
 

Viasat, Inc.
Chris Phillips
Director, Corporate Communications and Public Relations
+1 760-476-2322
chris.phillips@viasat.com

June Harrison
Investor Relations
+1 760-476-2633
IR@viasat.com