High-Speed Wi-Fi from Space to Bus Passengers, as Viasat Launches Digital Bus
05-19-2025
Viasat's new managed connectivity solution, Digital Bus, allows bus operators to provide high-quality passenger connectivity experiences using bonded satellite and cellular connectivity.
CARLSBAD., Calif., May, 16, 2025 – Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today announced its new managed connectivity solution, Digital Bus, which allows bus operators to provide high-quality passenger connectivity experiences using bonded satellite and cellular connectivity.
In recent successful trials in Brazil, Digital Bus delivered connectivity with high availability across varied geographical regions. The solution is available now for bus operators in Brazil, with other regions to be announced in the near future.
While large urban areas have existing cellular networks, many transport companies operating inter-city or inter-state routes regularly travel through areas with limited or no cellular connectivity. With travelers worldwide relying on buses in rural areas where rail or air travel is either too expensive or unavailable, a lack of connectivity can result in unhappy passengers.[1]
Viasat’s Digital Bus solution features customizable managed satellite and cellular connectivity, an operational intelligence platform for the operator to monitor the connectivity system and other datapoints, and a passenger portal which the customer uses to access the service. The passenger portal allows customers to access Wi-Fi quickly and intuitively, while bus operators can develop varied monetization approaches through targeted and dynamic advertising, as well as understanding passenger feedback and insights.
With satellite-powered internet on board, passengers globally will be able to browse the internet, chat with friends, and stream high-quality content, with coverage even in the most remote locations. Operators can also use Digital Bus to track, monitor and manage their fleet of vehicles wherever they are: even adding additional data points like telemetry or predictive maintenance to the dashboard view.
With satellite-powered internet on board, passengers globally will be able to browse the internet, chat with friends, and stream high-quality content, with coverage even in the most remote locations.
The solution uses aggregate connectivity from satellites and cellular networks backed by Viasat’s enterprise-grade network infrastructure and integrated connectivity platform. The hardware can be installed as a retrofit solution. Viasat is working closely with OEMs to line-fit the solution in the near future. The result is a fully managed service allowing operators to focus on their ability to deliver passengers to their destinations on time.
Andy Kessler, Vice President, Enterprise and Land Mobile, Viasat, said: “Passengers - wherever they are headed and by whichever means - increasingly expect the same level of connectivity they have at home while they are on the move. Our own research tells us 85% of bus passengers consider Wi-Fi an essential amenity during a journey, and we know reliable Wi-Fi will influence which provider they choose to ride with.[2] However, in many parts of the world, buses are travelling through huge areas without cellular coverage, which has meant there is little or no Wi-Fi for the customer on multi-day journeys.”
“Digital Bus is helping change the expectation around Wi-Fi on long bus journeys and builds on Viasat’s heritage in connecting people and things across air, sea and on land. We have worked closely with OEMs and bus operators to develop this one-stop managed solution designed by satellite connectivity experts. We will help them delight their customers, attract more business and develop new revenue streams.”
[1] Viasat passenger transport analysis, March 2025
[2] Viasat optional survey with commercial bus operator, "How important is free Wi-Fi (internet) on board the bus?", September 2024.
Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate and connect. Viasat is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to positively impact people’s lives anywhere they are — on the ground, in the air or at sea — while building a sustainable future in space. In May 2023, Viasat completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and resources of the two companies to create a new global communications partner. Learn more at www.viasat.com, the Viasat News Room or follow us on Facebook, Bluesky Instagram, LinkedIn, X or YouTube.
Copyright © 2025 Viasat, Inc. All rights reserved. Viasat, the Viasat logo and the Viasat Signal are registered in the U.S and in other countries to Viasat, Inc. All other product or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Richard Jones – External Communications, Viasat Enterprise, Richard.jones@viasat.com
Lisa Curran/Peter Lopez, Investor Relations, IR@viasat.com
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, among others, statements that refer to the planned roll-out of the Digital Bus solution and its future performance or reliability. 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 our ability to successfully roll-out the Digital Bus solution; its overall reliability, availability and performance characteristics; our reliance on commercial partners to provide coverage and capacity to enable Digital Bus, our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the ViaSat-3 class satellites and any future satellite we may construct or acquire; unexpected expenses related to our satellite projects; risks associated with the construction, launch and operation of satellites, including the effect of any anomaly, operational failure or degradation in satellite performance; our ability to successfully develop, introduce and sell new technologies, products and services; our reliance on a limited number of third parties to manufacture and supply our products; increased competition; introduction of new technologies and other factors affecting the communications and defense industries generally; the effect of adverse regulatory changes (including changes affecting spectrum availability or permitted uses) on our ability to sell or deploy our products and services; changes in the way others use spectrum; our inability to access additional spectrum, use spectrum for additional purposes, and/or operate satellites at additional orbital locations; competing uses of the same spectrum or orbital locations that we utilize or seek to utilize. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in our SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including our 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. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.