Viasat

Delta throws down the gauntlet with free Wi-Fi plan
Plans by Delta Airlines to start offering free inflight Wi-Fi next month increase pressure on other major airlines to follow suit, driving up more demand for satellite capacity.

Microsoft and Viasat partner to expand global connectivity access
Microsoft said Dec. 14 it is partnering with satellite operator Viasat to find solutions for bringing internet access to 10 million unserved or underserved people within three years.

Viasat wins $325 million U.S. Special Operations Command contract
The U.S. Special Operations Command awarded Viasat a $325 million contract to provide communications equipment and networking services over the next five years.

ViaSat-3’s Falcon Heavy launch slips into early 2023
Viasat said Nov. 8 its first ViaSat-3 broadband satellite will not be ready to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket this year.

Satellite operators gear up for Asia’s tidal wave of satellite capacity
Satellite operators in Asia are banking on soaring demand for connecting plane passengers and other customers on the move to absorb an exponentially increasing supply of capacity in the region.

Inmarsat sale clears Australia’s foreign investment watchdog
Viasat said Oct. 18 it got the nod from Australia’s foreign investment regulator to take over Inmarsat, although the deal remains subject to regulatory approvals elsewhere.

Viasat’s Inmarsat takeover faces delay as UK expands merger review
The U.K launched an in-depth probe Oct. 14 that will likely delay Viasat’s plan to buy Inmarsat, following concerns it could harm competition in the fledgling inflight connectivity market.

UK competition watchdog has concerns about Viasat’s Inmarsat takeover
Viasat’s $7.3 billion Inmarsat takeover could lead to more expensive and poorer quality Wi-Fi for plane passengers, the U.K.’s competition watchdog said Oct. 6 as it prepared to launch a full-scale probe of the deal.

Viasat sells tactical data communications business to L3Harris for $1.96 billion
L3Harris Technologies has agreed to acquire Viasat’s tactical data link business for $1.96 billion, the companies announced Oct. 3.

First ViaSat-3 enters environmental testing
Viasat said Sept. 29 its inaugural ViaSat-3 satellite has started environmental tests after being put into flight configuration for the first time.