Viasat heralded as “Connected Car Innovation of the Year” by AutoTech Breakthrough
10-15-2026
Viasat has been awarded “Connected Car Innovation of the Year” in the 7th annual AutoTech Breakthrough Awards for its leadership in the automotive industry
Viasat has been awarded “Connected Car Innovation of the Year” in the 7th annual AutoTech Breakthrough Awards program conducted by AutoTech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies and products in the global automotive and transportation technology markets today.
Viasat is bringing standards-based Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) connectivity into the automotive ecosystem through a series of innovative collaborations. Using Viasat’s global, highly reliable L-band satellite network, vehicles can connect to both terrestrial cellular and satellite networks, creating a ubiquitous safety and telemetry connectivity backbone.
Using standard 3GPP Release-17 chipsets, eSIM integration, AI codecs and on-the-shelf antennas, Viasat has shown it can successfully integrate satellite into mainstream automotive technology, reducing engineering complexity and accelerate commercial scalability. Viasat’s NTN capabilities can also provide an automated back-up for continuous bi-directional telemetry for fleet management, supporting accident detection and predictive maintenance, for example electronic and onboard software diagnostics and fluid condition & level assessments. For logistics and fleet operators, this could also reduce blind spots that undermine route planning, fuel efficiency and cold-chain integrity.
Read our automotive report
Discover how satellite and terrestrial networks are reshaping connectivity for drivers and automotive OEMs in our recent report The Great Connectivity Convergence: NTN in Automotive.
Viasat's most recent demonstration showed a first-of-its-kind live satellite-enabled voice call fully integrated into a vehicle infotainment system, showcasing how drivers can initiate emergency SOS calls, receive hazard alerts and critical voice communications via satellite. A previous trial in Brazil also connected vehicles traveling across a 250km corridor with frequent black spots, transmitting telemetry parameters even during severe weather.
In addition, Viasat is a founding member of the Mobile Satellite Services Association, promoting an open ecosystem by fostering shared technical and regulatory standards that can accelerate adoption, maximize interoperability and make satellite connectivity scalable.
The transportation technology sector is rapidly redefining the way people and goods move, transforming one of the world’s largest and most vital industries. From autonomous driving technologies and advanced driver-assistance systems to connected vehicle platforms, electrification, and sustainable mobility solutions, transportation technology is delivering greater safety, efficiency and environmental responsibility.
The mission of the annual AutoTech Breakthrough Awards program is to recognize the innovators transforming the global automotive and mobility landscape with breakthrough technology. The program conducts a comprehensive analysis of the companies redefining how vehicles are designed, manufactured, driven and maintained. From autonomous driving platforms and connected vehicle software to AI-driven safety systems, IoT-based fleet and telematics monitoring, and next-generation electrification and battery innovations, these innovations are enabling automotive companies to operate more efficiently, deliver safer and smarter transportation, and shape the future of how the world moves.
“Viasat keeps connected vehicles online beyond cellular coverage. The automotive sector’s move towards software-defined vehicles, autonomous transport and cloud-driven architectures has created a bottleneck. Terrestrial networks only cover a fraction of Earth’s landmass, leaving large gaps where vehicles cannot reliably connect, disrupting safety, telemetry and diagnostic services,” said Bryan Vaughn, Managing Director, AutoTech Breakthrough. “By uniting satellite and terrestrial networks through open, standards-based NTN technology, Viasat is creating the resilient, scalable and always-on foundation needed to make next-generation mobility safer, smarter and commercially viable everywhere. We’re so pleased to award Viasat with ‘Connected Car Innovation of the Year.’”
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 © 2026 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.
Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the AutoTech Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in automotive technologies, services, companies and products. The AutoTech Breakthrough Awards program provides a forum for public recognition around the achievements of AutoTech companies and solutions in categories including Connected Car, Electric Vehicles, Engine Tech, Automotive CyberSecurity, Sensor Technology, Traffic Tech, Vehicle Telematics and more. For more information visit AutoTechBreakthrough.com
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