Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today announced it has joined the Space Cluster on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus as it seeks new technology and research partnerships in the UK.
Harwell is home to the largest concentration of space expertise in the UK, with more than 1,400 people employed across over 100 private and public sector organizations, including the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency. Harwell estimates that the space industry contributes £5.7 billion to UK GDP.
With the opening of a new office at the Harwell Campus, Viasat is demonstrating its intent to play an active role within the UK’s space ecosystem while contributing its expertise in space-based broadband communications to the Harwell community.
“The Harwell Space Cluster is widely recognized as an integral part of the UK’s space sector, bringing together dynamic, innovative organizations from across the UK and European Union,” said Rick Baldridge, Viasat’s president and CEO. “We are looking to build relationships in the UK that can help add value and new capabilities to our global ViaSat-3 constellation of satellites, which will extend broadband internet service to the hardest-to-reach places in the world. We look forward to creating alliances with UK organizations in areas such as space safety and sustainability, encryption and data security, terminal development and more.”
The first of three ViaSat-3 high-capacity satellites is scheduled for launch later this year. The constellation is expected to deliver over 3 Terabits per second (Tbps) of total network capacity, or roughly eight times the capacity of Viasat’s current fleet.
“We are delighted to have Viasat join the Harwell Campus,” said Dr. Joanna Hart, development manager, Harwell Space Cluster. “It is an innovative communications company known for working with growing start-ups in the satellite and space community. Viasat will be able to access the world-leading space research and technology we offer, spotting valuable commercial opportunities and next-generation innovations.”
The Harwell Campus is interested in capitalizing on the rapid changes in space technology, and building links with other international space clusters, to help the UK achieve its National Space Strategy goal: to be 10% of the global space-related economy by 2030.
About Viasat
Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. For more than 35 years, Viasat has helped shape how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate. Today, the Company is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, secure, affordable, fast connections to impact people’s lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea. To learn more about Viasat, visit: www.viasat.com, go to Viasat’s Corporate Blog, or follow the Company on social media at: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube.
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 that refer to the launch timing of the first ViaSat-3 satellite and expected capacity of the ViaSat-3 constellation; and the opportunity to expand or share certain alliances, businesses, technologies or applications with Harwell Campus participants, and the resulting benefits. Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: risks associated with the construction, launch and operation of satellites, including the effect of any anomaly, operational failure or degradation in satellite performance; contractual problems, product defects, manufacturing issues or delays, regulatory issues, technologies not being developed according to anticipated schedules, or that do not perform according to expectations, and increased competition and other factors affecting the connectivity market, generally. 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.
