Projected ViaSat 3 coverage map. Photo: ViaSat

ViaSat unveiled its latest generation (Gen-2) in-flight internet equipment for its ViaSat 2 and ViaSat 3 satellites. The Gen-2 equipment is optimized to take advantage of the capacity increases from the ViaSat satellites, offering airlines faster and higher-quality in-flight internet performance.

ViaSat designed the Gen-2 equipment to be forward and backward compatible across ViaSat’s satellite platforms, allowing airlines to meet the growing broadband demands of the fully connected aircraft. Forward and backward compatibility ensures airlines can cost-effectively deploy the Gen-2 equipment today, and take advantage of the more than 3.5 terabits per second of total expected future global capacity ViaSat will bring to market, according to the company. Gen-2 compatibility will exist across all of ViaSat’s satellite platforms, which includes its first generation spacecraft (ViaSat 1, WildBlue 1, Anik F2), its second generation spacecraft (ViaSat 2) and its most advanced spacecraft (ViaSat 3). Additionally, the Gen-2 equipment is compatible with most other Ka-band satellites according to ViaSat, giving airlines greater choice in satellite solution providers. The ViaSat Gen-2 equipment will be production-ready and available for installations starting in May.