Viasat (Nasdaq: VSAT) has announced the availability of their new Viasat service, with speeds up to 100 Mbps — the new Viasat service will offer unlimited data plans, giving customers more freedom and access to more online services, without the need to pay overage charges.
The new service is powered by the ViaSat-2 satellite system and, according to the company, includes the most advanced, highest-capacity communications satellite in orbit today, coupled with new innovations in satellite ground infrastructure.
Higher speeds, for all
Viasat is the first satellite internet service provider in the U.S. or globally to offer plans with 100 Mbps download speeds to consumers’ homes. The Company’s new service is faster than any other satellite internet service today and is as much as 10 times faster than typical DSL. Additionally, most of Viasat’s home internet plans meet or surpass the Federal Communications Commission’s broadband definition of 25 Mbps download speeds, with plans offered at 12 Mbps, 25 Mbps, 30 Mbps, 50 Mbps and 100 Mbps speeds nationwide.
More data, no overage charges
Viasat is offering consumers the ability to enjoy more data and more entertainment at home — without overage charges. To offer this service, Viasat is optimizing video streaming, maximizing ground network efficiencies and flexing its system’s data consumption capabilities to offer more data and video viewing time at small screen, DVD or better quality. That means if the monthly data plan is exceeded, service will continue based on availability, except during peak periods where congestion may limit service.
Premium features, premium services
The new internet service comes power-packed with new capabilities:
- Whole-home WiFi: Viasat’s new, modern-designed home gateway offers built-in Wi-Fi with the latest wireless technology and two Gigabit Ethernet ports, allowing everyone in the home to connect their devices wirelessly.
- Integrated Voice Calling: An integrated phone port on the home gateway, allows for instant activation of home phone service without a separate ATA (analog telephone adapter).
- Enhanced Service Support: Customers can purchase EasyCare Support, offering free on-site service calls whenever needed, one free satellite dish relocation per year and priority access to tech support.
Internet anywhere
The company will enable ViaSat-2 services for business and government as well as in-flight internet connectivity on commercial and business aircraft. In each case, Viasat’s internet service will offer more satellite capacity and more premium features—meaning users will enjoy a better service experience, with amplified access, across a much larger coverage area.
In addition to the new service running on the ViaSat-2 satellite system, Viasat is already building its next-generation high-capacity satellite system — ViaSat-3 — which is expected to enable high-quality, high-speed internet access for billions of people and emerging markets worldwide. The ViaSat-3 system will offer global coverage with only three satellites, each designed to support over 1 Tbps of network capacity, further expanding the reach of 100+ Mbps broadband access. The first ViaSat-3 class satellite is expected to go into service in 2020 for the Americas, with the second satellite for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) expected to launch approximately 6 months later. A third ViaSat-3 class satellite is planned for the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.
Viasat’s new home internet service is available to all current and new customers. The service is available through a nationwide network of dealers, sales agents or direct through Viasat at: https://www.viasat.com/internet.
Mark Dankberg, Viasat’s chairman and CEO, stated that the company has upped the game for satellite internet by delivering a new service that gives consumers what they want: more data, faster speeds and better entertainment experiences across all device types. This service launch is an important step forward in Viasat’s mission to deliver faster internet anywhere. The innovations the company is making across the Viasat satellite system allows the firm to do extraordinary things, from moving the satellite industry up-market by delivering premium services, speeds and plans that give consumers new choices in their internet service provider, to helping bridge the digital divide in the U.S. today.
