Aircraft are free to roam the entire coverage area, which today includes North America, the North Atlantic, and Europe. ViaSat and communications service provider ARINC initiated broadband in-flight service in early 2005. Since then, the mobile network has grown to serve maritime vessels and ground vehicles as well as aircraft. Most of the 100,000 hours have been logged by larger business jets using ARINC SKYLink service, such as the Gulfstream G550. The mobile broadband network uses patented ViaSat ArcLight technology, which enables use of very small (12-inch), light-weight antennas. The service offers data download speeds of up to 10 Mbps to the aircraft and up to 512 kbps uploads. Customers can send and receive broadband data, connect to a virtual private network, and access video programming using portable devices on the ground, during taxi, and in-flight. Recently ViaSat announced plans to expand its ArcLight network to provide worldwide coverage by the end of 2009, working with maritime service provider KVH Industries. Mobile broadband coverage of the North Pacific is planned for the end of the year with coverage of Japan and Southeast Asia to follow soon.
