Viasat provides high-speed satellite internet access for residential, business, and government customers, especially in areas where traditional broadband is limited. The service works by connecting customers to a global high-capacity satellite network through subscription-based plans (with different speeds and data allowances) and is supported by customer hardware such as modems and antennas. In addition to consumer internet, Viasat signs contracts with government and enterprise clients for specialized communication solutions. Compared with some competitors, Viasat relies on a broad satellite network to reach remote regions worldwide and serves a diverse mix of customers, including households, businesses, and government entities, sometimes offering savings on selected plans. The company’s goal is to provide reliable, high-speed internet connectivity across the globe, expanding access to underserved areas through its satellite technology and services.
Company Size
5,001-10,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Carlsbad, California
Founded
1986
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Viasat has brought its ViaSat-3 F2 satellite into service across the Americas, completing its global constellation. The satellite provides more than one terabit per second of throughput capacity, significantly expanding the company's network capabilities in the region. The completion of the ViaSat-3 constellation has tripled the bandwidth available across Viasat's global fleet. F1 is already operational, whilst F3 entered service across Asia-Pacific in August. The satellite uses advanced beamforming technology to dynamically allocate capacity to high-demand flight routes, shipping lanes and geographic regions. Viasat chairman and CEO Mark Dankberg said the satellites represent the most advanced commercial satellites globally in terms of adaptive beam forming, user performance improvements and resilience to interference. The expanded network will support Viasat's aviation, maritime, government and broadband customers.
Viasat and Space42 commit up to $1 billion to shared D2D satellite platform Equatys. Date: September 14, 2026 By Manuel Nau, Lead Editor at IoT Business News. Viasat and Space42 have signed a binding agreement to establish Equatys, a shared satellite and ground infrastructure venture for direct-to-device and advanced mobile satellite services, with up to $1 billion in planned founder equity. Direct-to-device satellite connectivity is increasingly being treated less as a standalone satellite service and more as an extension of terrestrial mobile networks. That transition creates a different infrastructure problem: rather than simply putting more satellites into orbit, operators must find ways to share capacity, coordinate spectrum and integrate non-terrestrial networks with existing mobile infrastructure without forcing every participant to build its own constellation. Viasat and Space42 are taking that shared-infrastructure approach with Equatys. The two companies have signed a binding agreement to formally establish the venture, which is intended to provide a neutral satellite and ground-network layer that can be used by multiple mobile and satellite operators. A tower-company model applied to space. The most distinctive aspect of Equatys is not simply its planned constellation, but its commercial architecture. Viasat and Space42 are adapting the tower-company model used extensively in terrestrial cellular networks, where operators share physical infrastructure while retaining their own spectrum rights, customers and commercial relationships. Equatys is designed to perform a similar role for non-terrestrial networks. Licensed operators could use common satellites and ground infrastructure rather than deploying separate systems. The model is also intended to remain open to additional satellite operators and spectrum holders. This is an important distinction from D2D strategies built around a vertically integrated constellation and service. In practical terms, Equatys is attempting to separate ownership and operation of the underlying space infrastructure from the services delivered over it. If successfully implemented, that structure could allow regional operators or spectrum holders to participate in satellite D2D without taking on the economics and operational complexity of deploying an independent constellation. Up to $1 billion in founder equity. Upon formation of Equatys, Viasat and Space42 each plan to contribute $400 million in equity. Space42 expects to add another $200 million during a future funding round that would also be open to third-party investors, bringing the founders' potential combined contribution to $1 billion. The venture is also expected to use third-party equity and debt financing as the system develops. Viasat is expected to become Equatys' prime technology contractor once the company is formally established. The initial satellite deployment would form the first stage of an architecture capable of scaling to as many as 2,800 satellites across 60 orbital planes and three altitude layers. Rather than requiring a fundamental redesign as capacity requirements increase, the architecture is intended to support progressive densification. Why the architecture matters for IoT. Equatys is being built around 3GPP non-terrestrial-network standards and is intended to connect conventional smartphones, IoT devices and other terminals directly to satellites. Viasat and Space42 say they collectively have commercial relationships with more than 400 mobile operators and technical access to more than 100 MHz of globally coordinated mobile satellite service spectrum. For IoT deployments, the shared model could be particularly relevant where terrestrial coverage is intermittent rather than completely absent. Logistics assets, vehicles, infrastructure monitoring equipment and other mobile or remote devices could potentially use the same operator relationship across terrestrial and satellite coverage instead of relying on a separate satellite communications architecture. The broader implication is that satellite connectivity could increasingly become an infrastructure option available behind a cellular service rather than a separate connectivity stack selected at device level. That would shift part of the integration burden away from OEMs and enterprises toward mobile operators, satellite operators and connectivity platforms managing terrestrial-to-NTN service continuity. That transition remains dependent on deployment, regulatory approvals and the completion of Equatys' formation. The constellation procurement and associated definitive agreements are also still subject to closing conditions. But the binding agreement and funding framework move the project beyond an architectural concept and toward the capital-intensive phase required to turn shared NTN infrastructure into an operational network.
Viasat has announced its ViaSat-3 F3 satellite has entered service, making capacity available to customers across the Asia-Pacific region. The satellite is designed to deliver more than one terabit per second of throughput capacity, more than doubling the bandwidth of Viasat's current fleet. ViaSat-3 F3 is the second of three satellites in Viasat's Ka-band constellation. ViaSat-3 F1 has been in service since 2024, whilst ViaSat-3 F2, which will serve the Americas, is completing in-orbit testing and expected to enter service soon. Chairman and CEO Mark Dankberg said the satellite's technology will drive growth across the company's portfolio. The advanced system can maximise regional capacity density on demand within premium mobility markets.
Qatar Airways equips 150 widebody jets with Starlink Wi-Fi. * by Nour ITS - August 27, 2026 Reading time: 3 min Post Views: 250 Qatar Airways has equipped 150 widebody jets with Starlink aircraft Wi-Fi across its long-haul network, while in parallel, Royal Air Maroc prepares Africa's first commercial rollout, demonstrating how aviation satellite internet is now becoming a competitive standard for global carriers. The Doha-based airline has moved to expand its service since launching its first Starlink-equipped flight in October 2024, as aircraft internet pivots from an optional perk to a core part of the passenger experience, especially on long-haul routes where reliable connectivity has been hard to deliver. Qatar Airways builds an early lead. Qatar Airways has installed Starlink across its Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 aircraft, Boeing 777-300ER and 777-200LR jets, and Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. The carrier became the first airline to introduce Starlink on aircraft of the Boeing 787-9 type, with fleetwide installations expected by the end of 2026. That schedule would bring the airline's Starlink aviation plans to 175 aircraft within just over two years. The rollout supports as many as 323 flights each day, giving passengers free gate-to-gate connectivity at speeds reaching 500 Mbps. More than 23 million passengers have used the connection across 86,000 flights, placing Qatar Airways among the leading airlines with Starlink connectivity, showing how quickly high-speed connectivity is becoming a standard service rather than a premium extra. Questions remain over its Airbus A330 and A380 fleets. Qatar Airways has not confirmed whether those older jets will receive aircraft Wi-Fi, partly because both types face uncertain long-term roles as the airline favors more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft. Emirates is following with a commitment to equip 232 Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft by mid-2027. It has connected one million customers and installed the service on 33 Boeing 777s and three A380s, with "more aircraft with Starlink taking flight every week". Etihad has chosen Viasat's Amara solution instead, covering most of its widebody and narrowbody fleet. That contrast shows that Starlink for planes is gaining ground quickly, but Gulf carriers are still taking different technical and commercial paths. Royal Air Maroc takes Starlink into Africa. Royal Air Maroc will progressively install Starlink on airplane fleets under an agreement finalized after months of negotiations and onboard testing. The August 4 deal makes Morocco's national carrier the first commercial airline in Africa to adopt SpaceX's low Earth orbit satellite network. The airline aims to complete deployment across its commercial fleet by 2027, one year earlier than its previous plan to begin inflight connectivity in 2028. The accelerated Starlink aviation plans will run alongside the expected delivery of around 100 new Boeing aircraft over the coming years. For passengers, aviation satellite internet promises lower latency and enough speed for streaming, web browsing, social media and remote work. Starlink's inter-satellite laser links also help maintain service across oceans and remote areas where traditional connections can struggle. Royal Air Maroc now joins major airlines with Starlink, including Qatar Airways, Emirates, Air France, United Airlines and British Airways. Its entry also gives SpaceX an important African aviation customer as satellite connectivity becomes part of fleet modernization decisions. Across the broader market, nearly 50 carriers are installing or preparing the service. Lufthansa has begun deployment across 850 existing and future aircraft, while airBaltic has completed installations on all 55 of its Airbus A220-300 jets, strengthening demand for Starlink inflight Wi-Fi. Still, adoption is not universal. Delta selected Amazon Leo, KLM retained Viasat, and Ryanair rejected the system for now. EasyJet Chief Executive Kenton Jarvis said, "the economics aren't quite working for us", highlighting the cost concerns surrounding aircraft Wi-Fi on price-sensitive short-haul operations. Qatar Airways' rapid rollout gives it a customer-experience advantage across long-haul travel. Royal Air Maroc brings aircraft internet to Africa. The spread of Starlink on aircraft signals reliable Wi-Fi. Aircraft Wi-Fi is moving closer to an expected feature. For Qatar Airways, the remaining decision concerns whether ageing A330s and A380s justify further investment. For the wider sector, aircraft Wi-Fi is becoming another measure by which passengers compare airlines, placing pressure on carriers that delay upgrades or select slower alternatives. Inside Telecom provides you with an extensive list of content covering all aspects of the tech industry. Keep an eye on its Telecom sections to stay informed and up-to-date with its daily articles.
Rocket Lab has been selected by Viasat to build the spacecraft bus for the US Space Force's Protected Tactical SATCOM-Global programme under Viasat's $218.8 million prime contract awarded in May. Rocket Lab will supply its Lightning-GEO spacecraft platform to carry Viasat's dual-band anti-jamming payload. Stifel analyst Erik Rasmussen maintained a Buy rating on Rocket Lab, noting the contract represents a high eight-figure revenue opportunity and positions the company for follow-on contracts. Rocket Lab reported record second-quarter revenue of $234.1 million, up 62% year over year, with backlog surging 137% to $2.36 billion. The company posted a net loss of $49.25 million but increased cash reserves to $2.13 billion following an equity offering. Viasat generated approximately $1.2 billion in first-quarter revenue, down 1% year over year. The company narrowed its net loss to $52 million whilst free cash flow increased 19% to $72 million.