Viasat: The Next Chapter

The evolution of satellite operator Viasat has been one of the most interesting stories in the satellite industry in recent years. The company has grabbed major headlines from the Inmarsat acquisition to the unexpected ViaSat-3 issue.

After completing a massive piece of industry consolidation by acquiring fellow satellite operator Inmarsat in 2023, Viasat’s story took a surprising turn when the newly launched ViaSat-3 experienced an anomaly with the satellite’s reflector. ViaSat-3 is the first in a series of three very high throughput capacity (VHTS) satellites that have been in the works for years. It was an unfortunate high-profile failure that was a reminder to the satellite industry of how difficult it is to operate in space. The industry has been closely following each update from Viasat, from the health of the satellite to the insurance claim, and how the operator is adjusting its strategy to deal with the impact.

Meanwhile, Viasat has two more ViaSat-3 satellites upcoming, and multiple avenues of growth ahead with the combined company. The company is pursuing business in in-flight connectivity, defense, and the developing satellite-to-cell market. The company is a founding member of the new industry organization, the Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA) and CEO Mark Dankberg chairs the organization.

In addition, Viasat is now the largest of the traditional operators in terms of revenue, bringing in around $1 billion per quarter. This is a collection of Via Satellite’s stories about the evolution of Viasat, and we will continue to cover the company’s strategy.