CARLSBAD, Calif., April 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), King Abdul-aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) is leading the transformation of satellite broadband in the KSA. KACST has selected the high-capacity Ka-band satellite system from ViaSat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT) as the service platform for its National Satellite Data Network based on the system's ability to deliver exceptional broadband speeds and a user experience similar to some of the fastest terrestrial broadband services for most applications.
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The KACST contract, valued at approximately $70 million, includes gateways, network operation facilities, and end user terminals to implement the services using high-capacity Ka-band capacity hosted on the Arabsat-5C satellite. Arabsat and ViaSat collaborated on the development of Arabsat-5C to add a 10-spot beam, high-capacity Ka-band payload.
"With our National Satellite Data Network we will serve our customers with exceptional speeds and capacity throughout the Kingdom," said H.E. Dr. Mohammed ibn Ibrahim Al-Suwaiyel, president of KACST.
As the KSA's center for Saudi Arabian national science and its national laboratories, KACST fosters national innovation and technology transfer between research institutes and industry.
In selecting ViaSat, and its KSA team including High Capabilities Technologies Co. Ltd (HICAP) and Modern Technology Co. Ltd (MOTECO), the KSA adds to expanding global Ka-band coverage that includes service networks under the Exede(SM) by ViaSat brand in the U.S., Xplornet in Canada, and Eutelsat Tooway across Europe and the Mediterranean basin.
"The key to two-way broadband is maximizing capacity or bits available to the end users to be served," said H.E. Dr. Mohammed ibn Ibrahim Al-Suwaiyel. "To accomplish that, our satellite and our satellite services include key attributes from the world-class ViaSat-1 and Eutelsat KA-SAT satellites."
ViaSat will perform the program in cooperation with its KSA teammates MOTECO/HICAP.
"We look forward to continuing over 30 years of cooperation with ViaSat as we implement this important program for KSA," said Sheikh Farhan AL-Faisal, president & CEO MOTECO & vice president of HICAP.
ViaSat is the most experienced and most vertically integrated high-capacity Ka-band broadband company, providing satellite design, ground infrastructure, and service operation support. The company's ViaSat-1 satellite is the highest capacity satellite in the world at 140 Gbps total throughput.
About ViaSat
ViaSat delivers fast, secure communications, Internet, and network access to virtually any location for consumers, governments, enterprise, and the military. The company offers fixed and mobile satellite network services including Exede by ViaSat, which features ViaSat-1, the world's highest capacity satellite; satellite broadband networking systems; and network-centric military communication systems and cyber security products for the U.S. and allied governments. ViaSat also offers communication system design and a number of complementary
products and technologies. Based in Carlsbad, California, ViaSat has established a number of worldwide locations for customer service, network operations, and technology development.
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, particularly statements regarding the speeds and capacity of the network. 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 defense 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.
SOURCE ViaSat Inc.
