Humanitarian Effort Provides Connectivity to Tens of Thousands of Displaced Refugees
CARLSBAD, Calif., April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company, and the Košice region, Slovakia, have partnered to provide free high-speed internet to Ukrainian refugees in Eastern Slovakia using Viasat's proven satellite-enabled Community Internet system. Viasat Community Internet (VCI) sites are being installed across Eastern Slovakia in areas of greatest need for refugee connectivity.
Slovakia has embraced thousands of refugees daily since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict. One of the major challenges refugees face when arriving in Slovakia is access to the internet for online news, digital tools and resources. Viasat's high-speed Community Internet service provides an opportunity for refugees to communicate with loved ones and stay informed. Additionally, the Company is working with local partners to ensure installations of its Community Internet service sites are meeting the refugees' needs. This humanitarian effort is powered by the KA-SAT network which has provided satellite-based high-speed internet to thousands of Ukrainians for a decade.
The Viasat Community Internet service implements a public Wi-Fi hotspot connected and enabled by a Viasat satellite to deliver free high-speed internet service to these refugee communities that previously had little or no internet connectivity. The Viasat Community Internet service seeks to improve the quality of life of unserved and underserved individuals and families by giving them better access to online tools, resources and streaming video.
"Today we are demonstrating our mission to provide high-quality connectivity across the globe by helping Ukrainian refugees. By partnering with the Košice region, we can provide a much-needed resource to Ukrainians during this incredible time of need," said Evan Dixon, president of global fixed broadband at Viasat. "Our satellite-based Community Internet service enables us to connect tens of thousands of refugees at no cost to them so they can access high-speed internet to remain connected to family and friends and follow current events."
Rastislav Trnka, president of the Košice region, "The Košice region is at the front line of helping people of Ukraine, given that it is located in the immediate vicinity of the Ukraine-Slovakia border. Since the beginning of this conflict, we have been helping people driven from their homes by operating humanitarian warehouses, offering information points at borders and stations, providing free transport and accommodations in emergency facilities for war refugees and coordinating volunteers. So far, we have provided accommodations across emergency facilities to more than 5,500 residents of Ukraine. We welcome Viasat's high-speed satellite internet which allows us provide an opportunity for refugees to immediately access critical information and communications."
About Viasat
Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. For 35 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 statements that refer to the arrangement between, resources committed and services to be performed by Viasat, Skylogic and the Košice region of Slovakia; the benefits of the Community Internet connectivity service; the countries to be served by the Community Internet connectivity service; the opportunity to expand into other geographies, business areas or applications; and the timing and availability of service on the KA-SAT satellite networks. Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: risks associated with the construction, launch and operation of 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 connectivity market, 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 © 2022 Viasat, Inc. All rights reserved. Viasat, the Viasat logo and the Viasat signal are registered trademarks of Viasat, Inc. All other product or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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SOURCE Viasat, Inc.
Carlos Mangandy, Public Relations, +1-760-893-3820, carlos.mangandy@viasat.com, Paul Froelich/Peter Lopez, Investor Relations, +1-760-476-2633, IR@viasat.com
