CARLSBAD, Calif., March 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Aviation Week & Space Technology announced the ViaSat-2 satellite has been selected as a winner of the 61st Annual Laureate Awards, honoring extraordinary achievements in the global aerospace arena. Viasat's ViaSat-2 satellite, built by spacecraft partner The Boeing Company using a payload architecture designed by Viasat, was selected as a winner in the 'Space, Platforms' category. The panel of judges recognized the ViaSat-2 satellite because it is expected to be the world's highest-capacity commercial communications satellite, reducing the cost of space-based connectivity to make satellite broadband competitive with terrestrial internet services.

The ViaSat-2 satellite system is expected to significantly improve speeds, reduce costs and expand the footprint of broadband services across North America, Central America, the Caribbean and a portion of northern South America, as well as the primary aeronautical and maritime routes across the Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe. ViaSat-2 is a geostationary satellite that operates in Ka-band frequencies. It was designed to offer high-capacity connectivity and wide coverage, with the flexibility to move capacity to where demand requires it.

Aviation Week & Space Technology Editor-in-Chief Joseph C. Anselmo commented, "The ViaSat-2 satellite, and all of the winners selected by Aviation Week Network editors who reviewed dozens of nominations, embody the spirit of exploration, innovation and vision that will inspire others to strive for broad-reaching progress in aviation, aerospace and defense."

"We are honored the ViaSat-2 satellite has been recognized with an Aviation Week Network Laureate Award. These awards have a long history of recognizing the very best in the industry and we are proud to win this distinction," said Mark Dankberg, chairman and CEO, Viasat. "The ViaSat-2 system represents focused teamwork to bring high-speed, high-quality internet to more people on the ground, in the air and at sea. This is a rewarding moment for our team, partners and customers."

The winners of the 2018 Laureate Awards were honored on March 1, 2018 at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC. The award categories were Business Aviation, Commercial, Defense and Space.

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.

About Aviation Week Network
Aviation Week Network is the largest multimedia information and services provider for the global aviation, aerospace and defense industries that has a database of 1.2 million professionals around the world.  Industry professionals rely on Aviation Week Network for analysis, marketing and intelligence.  Customers include the world's leading manufacturers, suppliers, airlines, business aviation operators, militaries, governments and other organizations that serve this global market.  The product portfolio includes Air Transport World, Aviation Week & Space Technology, AC-U-KWIK, Aircraft Blue Book, Airportdata.com, Air Charter Guide, AviationWeek.com, Aviation Week Intelligence Network, Business & Commercial Aviation, ShowNews, SpeedNews, Fleet and MRO forecasts, global maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) tradeshows and aerospace & defense conferences.

About Informa
Aviation Week Network is part of Informa, the international business intelligence, academic publishing, knowledge and events group. Informa serves commercial, professional and academic communities, helping them connect and learn, and creating and providing access to content and intelligence that helps people and businesses work smarter and make better decisions faster.

Informa has over 7,500 colleagues in more than 20 countries and a presence in all major geographies. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 100.

Forward Looking Statement 
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 capacity, flexibility, service speeds, cost, footprint and coverage area of the ViaSat-2 satellite, as well as the anticipated benefits, performance, bandwidth economics and other features of the ViaSat-2 satellite. 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: risks associated with the in-orbit testing and operation of the ViaSat-2 satellite, including the effect of any anomaly, operational failure or degradation in satellite or ground segment performance, and the Company's ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the ViaSat-2 satellite. 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. 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.