CARLSBAD, Calif., Oct 22, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq:VSAT) recently passed 100,000 flight hours for its ArcLight(R) airborne broadband system that delivers cable-like broadband service to business aircraft. The Ku-band satellite service, the only one licensed by the FCC, offers faster speeds at a lower cost than either cellular or other satellite mobile broadband alternatives, as well as better service in congested airspace. Aircraft are free to roam the entire coverage area, which today includes North America, the North Atlantic, and Europe.

ViaSat and communications service provider ARINC initiated broadband in-flight service in early 2005. Since then the mobile network has grown to serve maritime vessels and ground vehicles as well as aircraft. Most of the 100,000 hours have been logged by larger business jets using ARINC SKYLinkSM service, such as the Gulfstream G550.

The mobile broadband network uses patented ViaSat ArcLight technology, which enables use of very small (12-inch), light-weight antennas. The service offers data download speeds of up to 10 Mbps to the aircraft and up to 512 kbps uploads. Customers can send and receive broadband data, connect to a virtual private network, and access video programming using portable devices on the ground, during taxi, and in-flight.

"This milestone validates our claim that our ArcLight technology, using Ku-band satellites, has significant advantages over other mobile broadband systems," said Don Buchman, director of ViaSat Mobile Broadband Systems. "Once our network expansion is complete, aircraft, ships, and land vehicles will be able to move from one region to another, around the globe, without service interruption."

Recently ViaSat announced plans to expand its ArcLight network to provide worldwide coverage by the end of 2009, working with maritime service provider KVH Industries. Mobile broadband coverage of the North Pacific is planned for the end of the year with coverage of Japan and Southeast Asia to follow soon.

About ViaSat

ViaSat produces innovative satellite and other digital communication products that enable fast, secure, and efficient communications to 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 to the U.S. government; and is the primary technology partner for gateway and customer premises equipment for consumer and mobile satellite broadband services. The company has five subsidiaries: US Monolithics, Efficient Channel Coding, Enerdyne Technologies, Intelligent Compression Technologies (ICT), and JAST. These companies design and produce complementary products such as monolithic microwave integrated circuits, DVB-S2 satellite communication components, video data link systems, data acceleration and compression products, and mobile satellite antenna systems. ViaSat has locations in Carlsbad, CA, and Duluth, GA, along with its Comsat Laboratories division in Germantown, MD. Additional field offices are located in Boston, MA, Baltimore, MD, Washington DC, Australia, China, India, Italy, and Spain.

Forward-Looking Statements

Portions of this release, particularly statements about network expansion, global or worldwide coverage, the role of ViaSat and KVH in cooperating and establishing networks, the sale of ViaSat equipment and services, and the performance and deliveries of ViaSat products and technology contain forward-looking statements regarding future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. 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 telecommunications industry generally. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in ViaSat's SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including without limitation, ViaSat's annual reports on Form 10-K and ViaSat's 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.

SKYLink is a service mark of ARINC.

Comsat Labs and Comsat Laboratories are tradenames of ViaSat, Inc. Neither Comsat Labs nor Comsat Laboratories is affiliated with COMSAT Corporation. "Comsat" is a registered trademark of COMSAT Corporation. All additional products are trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE: ViaSat Inc.

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