WildBlue Selects ViaSat To Supply Consumer Broadband Satellite Equipment
Add this to your profile, blog, bookmarking site, or email this page.
Upcoming Events
More ViaSat News
- Broadband Case Studies
- Enterprise Case Studies
- Government Case Studies
- AcceleNet WAN Optimization
- Antenna Systems
- ASICs and IP Cores
- Aviation Broadband
- Broadband Services
- Broadband Systems
- Commercial Satellite Networks
- Corporate
- Data Links
- Financial
- Information Security
- Military Satcom
- Military Tactical Networking
- Mobile Broadband
- Optical Networking
- Short Range Radar
- VSAT Networks
- WildBlue Broadband Services
DENVER, CO AND CARLSBAD, CA - WildBlue Communications, Inc. (www.wildblue.com) and ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq:VSAT) announced today an agreement for ViaSat to supply satellite broadband equipment and ground systems for the WildBlue consumer and small office/home office broadband service. The contract is valued at over $33 million and includes final development and production of consumer premises equipment (CPE) and gateway equipment to support WildBlue's initial service launch. Customer equipment includes a ViaSat Ka-band satellite modem and outdoor Ka-band transceiver electronics from ViaSat subsidiary US Monolithics LLC. CPE deliveries are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2004.
With a planned launch in the second half of 2004, the primary target of the WildBlue service will be an estimated 30 million homes and small offices that don't have access to other broadband options. To reach these customers, WildBlue is using a new approach to satellite communications. The CPE technology is based on the proven DOCSIS� (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) networking standard, the leading consumer broadband technology in North America. Coupled with advanced satellite waveforms, ViaSat's implementation of DOCSIS for a satellite-based system lowers the cost of consumer terminals, reduces satellite bandwidth requirements, enables plug-and-play installation, and provides for mature customer service, billing and network control software and systems. WildBlue is also expected to be the first satellite broadband service based on next-generation Ka-band spot beam technology, designed to lower the cost of providing high-speed Internet access via satellite.
"WildBlue's mission is to provide affordable broadband Internet access virtually anywhere, with a focus on small cities and rural America," said WildBlue CEO Thomas Moore. "We have a strong dedication to developing a low cost infrastructure, from the cost-effective design of our satellite modems to the high capacity and low cost of our next generation Ka-band spot beam satellite. We are especially pleased to be working with ViaSat, a recognized industry leader in IP networking over satellite technologies, to make the most efficient use of our satellite capacity."
Mark Dankberg, ViaSat chairman and CEO commented, "We're very pleased to resume our contract with WildBlue. We believe this program represents the state-of-the-art in low-cost satellite broadband technology both in terms of our ground segment and WildBlue's Ka-band spot beam satellite. We're certainly looking forward to WildBlue's service launch this year."
WildBlue's satellite modem is designed to serve the same purpose as DSL or cable modems. It will convert analog data transmissions into Internet Protocol (IP) data packets, that can be read by the customer's PC or any digital Internet appliance. The agreement with ViaSat allows WildBlue to leverage standard components from the cable modem and satellite TV industries to lower the cost of satellite modems while providing excellent performance over the Ka-band satellite link. This performance will enable WildBlue to offer attractively-priced two-way wireless satellite broadband service.
About WildBlue (www.wildblue.com)
Denver-based WildBlue Communications, Inc. was established in 1997 to accelerate consumer broadband access to the Internet in smaller cities and throughout rural America. WildBlue's services are designed to deliver on consumer desires for a fast, affordable, always-on two-way technology for wireless Internet access. Service is slated to begin in the second half of 2004. More information on the company is available at www.wildblue.com.
About ViaSat (www.viasat.com)
ViaSat produces innovative satellite and other wireless communication products that enable fast, easy, and efficient communications to any location. ViaSat has a full line of VSAT products for data and voice applications, and is a market leader in Ka-band satellite systems, from user terminals to large gateways. ViaSat has locations in Carlsbad, CA, and Norcross, GA, along with its Comsat Laboratories technology development division based in Clarksburg, MD. Additional field offices are located in Boston, MA, Washington DC/Baltimore, Australia, China, India and Italy.
In addition, ViaSat's wholly-owned subsidiary, U.S. Monolithics, designs and produces monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) and modules for use in broadband communications. USM is based in Chandler, Arizona.
Safe Harbor Statement
Portions of this release, particularly statements about the capabilities of the satellite terminals and the WildBlue service, may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. ViaSat wishes to caution you that there are some factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: ViaSat's ability to perform under existing contracts and obtain additional contracts, ViaSat's ability to develop new products that gain market acceptance, changes in product supply, pricing and customer demand, changes in relationships with, or the financial condition of, key customers or suppliers, changes in government regulations, changes in economic conditions globally and in the communications markets in particular, increased competition, potential product liability, infringement and other claims, and other factors affecting the communications industry generally. ViaSat refers you to the documents it files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the section titled Factors That May Affect Future Performance in ViaSat's Form 10-K. These documents contain and identify other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements. Stockholders and other readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements.
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.
DOCSIS is a registered trademark of Cable Television Laboratories Inc.

