ViaSat Marks One-Year Anniversary of Exede Satellite Internet Service Launch
CARLSBAD, Calif., March 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT) is marking the one-year anniversary this month of the nationwide rollout of its Exede Internet service, which uses the ViaSat-1 satellite, the most advanced and highest capacity satellite in the world. The consistently speedy performance of the Exede residential broadband service has helped ViaSat reach more than 285,000 subscribers on ViaSat-1 in its first year of operation. The total subscriber count across all ViaSat satellites has surpassed 500,000 for the first time.
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“Our results prove that driving down the cost of bandwidth can make satellite a better choice than slower terrestrial alternatives,” said Mark Dankberg, chairman and CEO of ViaSat. “The market success of ViaSat-1 strengthens our commitment to delivering a series of new satellites that push the boundaries of what’s possible in satellite broadband across a broad range of market opportunities.”
The 12 Mbps baseline download speed offered by Exede Internet is eight times faster than previous generation satellite services. While the feasibility and value of such a major technology advance was initially questioned in the industry, the Exede experience has quickly demonstrated that there is a much bigger appetite for satellite broadband in the market than most people anticipated.
Powered by ViaSat-1 — now officially recognized as the World’s Highest Capacity Communications Satellite with a Guinness World Records title — Exede service has moved into the mainstream of Internet options. A February 2013 FCC report showed Exede Internet outperforming all other ISPs in delivering promised speeds to subscribers, with 90 percent of Exede subscribers receiving 140 percent or better of the advertised 12 Mbps speed during peak periods. And approximately 40 percent of new Exede subscribers are choosing the satellite service over other alternatives available to them, such as DSL, cable, and mobile wireless for fixed home use — a major shift from the previous generations of satellite Internet service, which were considered to be a “last resort” for those with no other Internet alternative.
Beyond residential Internet, the ViaSat high-capacity satellite system is poised to re-shape communication services in other industries as well:
- Faster, easier-to-use, and more cost-effective communications and video streaming for live events, such as newsgathering, concerts, and sports, as well as emergency response operations.
- Improved in-flight Internet that can provide enough high-speed bandwidth for every passenger on the plane.
- Higher-definition, higher-volume mobile video gathering and dissemination for military operations.
ViaSat will showcase these new services at Satellite 2013 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, March 18-21, with interactive newsgathering, military ISR, and in-flight broadband demonstrations. Experts from several ViaSat business areas will also participate in six conference panel sessions, including Mr. Dankberg in Thursday’s session: “Satellite Broadband Comes of Age: The Ka-band Equation.” Find ViaSat on the show floor in booth 6047.
About ViaSat (www.viasat.com)
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; service to more than 1,750 mobile platforms, including Yonder® Ku-band mobile Internet; satellite broadband networking systems; and network-centric military communication systems and cybersecurity 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 employs over 2,500 people in a number of locations worldwide for technology development, customer service, and network operations.
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 about continually improving bandwidth economics and service quality, re-shaping other industries such as speed and ease of use for live events, video streaming, in-flight Internet, and mobile video gathering. ViaSat wishes to caution you that there are some factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including but not limited to: the ability to successfully implement ViaSat‘s business plan for broadband satellite services on ViaSat‘s anticipated timeline or at all; risks associated with the construction, launch and operation of ViaSat‘s satellites, including the effect of any anomaly, operational failure or degradation in satellite performance; negative audits by the U.S. government; continued turmoil in the global business environment and economic conditions; delays in approving U.S. government budgets and cuts in government defense expenditures; ViaSat‘s reliance on U.S. government contracts, and on a small number of contracts which account for a significant percentage of ViaSat‘s revenues; the ability to successfully develop, introduce and sell new technologies, products and services; reduced demand for products as a result of continued constraints on capital spending by customers; changes in relationships with, or the financial condition of, key customers or suppliers; reliance on a limited number of third parties to manufacture and supply ViaSat‘s products; increased competition and other factors affecting the communications and defense industries generally; the effect of adverse regulatory changes on ViaSat‘s ability to sell products and services; ViaSat‘s level of indebtedness and ability to comply with applicable debt covenants; ViaSat‘s involvement in litigation, including intellectual property claims and litigation to protect proprietary technology; and ViaSat‘s dependence on a limited number of key employees. 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.
Exede and Yonder are registered trademarks of ViaSat Inc.
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Mark D. Dankberg
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SOURCE ViaSat Inc.
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