[SatNews] “The expertise we obtained in high-rate communications gives us important new ways to deliver a higher level of performance and increased data throughput for commercial and government customers.

ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT), provider of satellite and other wireless networking systems and services, has expanded its high-speed satellite data communication technology base with the acquisition of a high-rate modem product line and custom spacecraft technologies for Earth observation from Gray Labs Inc. Gray Labs has been at the leading edge of this market for several decades and the technology continues to provide high performance in ISR and other applications.

ViaSat will continue to support Gray Labs products and customers with state-of-the-art design from its Duluth, Georgia campus. The former staff of Gray Labs has relocated to ViaSat facilities, and Dr. Jim Gray, former Gray Labs president, has assumed a senior consulting position at ViaSat where he will help expand the capabilities of satellite-to-Earth communications for ISR.

“The output of ISR sensors is growing exponentially, so maximizing satellite data rates is increasingly important,” said Kent Leka, VP of Satellite Ground Systems at ViaSat. “The expertise we obtained from Gray Labs in high-rate communications gives us important new ways to deliver a higher level of performance and increased data throughput for commercial and government customers. We’re also gaining technical expertise and an entrepreneurial spirit that the Gray Labs team has in common with ViaSat.”

“With the combination of our advanced technologies and our strong positions in the satellite ISR market, we’re looking forward to accomplishing great things as we move forward together,” said Dr. Gray.

ViaSat creates satellite and other wireless networking bandwidth for fast, secure, and high-quality communications to any location for consumers, governments, enterprises, and the military. The company offers Exede® services in North America, which feature ViaSat-1, one of the highest capacity satellites; worldwide mobile satellite services, including global tracking and messaging as well as high-speed in-flight Internet; satellite broadband networking systems; and network-centric military communication systems and cybersecurity for the U.S. and allied governments. ViaSat also offers communication system design and a number of complementary products and technologies. Based in Carlsbad, California, ViaSat employs over 3,300 people in a number of locations worldwide for technology development, customer service, and network operations.