ViaSat-3 F2 Satellite Confirmed to Launch November 5, 2025

Rhea-AI Summary

Viasat (NASDAQ: VSAT) confirmed the scheduled launch of its ViaSat-3 F2 satellite on November 5, 2025 with a launch window opening at 10:24 PM ET. The satellite will launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V551 from Cape Canaveral and will travel to geostationary orbit at 79° west longitude.

ViaSat-3 F2 is expected to more than double Viasat’s current network capacity, provide coverage over the Americas, support platforms such as Viasat Amara and NexusWave, and enter commercial service after several months of in-orbit testing, still anticipated in early 2026.

Positive

• Launch date set for Nov 5, 2025 at 10:24 PM ET
• Expected to more than double Viasat network capacity
• Orbital slot assigned at 79° west longitude

Negative

• Several months of transit and in-orbit testing before service, delaying commercial entry until early 2026

Insights

Satellite Capacity Strategist

ViaSat-3 F2 launch should materially expand Viasat's fleet capacity and operational flexibility upon successful on-orbit commissioning.

ViaSat-3 F2 adds a high-throughput geostationary satellite positioned at 79° west, designed to more than double network capacity and deliver dynamically steerable beams to shift bandwidth to high-demand locations in real time. This mechanism directly increases addressable throughput for aviation, fixed broadband and government SATCOM use cases and integrates with platforms named as Viasat Amara, NexusWave and the company’s hybrid SATCOM architecture.

Operational outcomes depend on successful launch, multi-month transfer to geostationary orbit and completion of in-orbit testing before commercial entry expected in early 2026. Key technical risks include deployment anomalies, payload or bus failures during testing, and delays in commissioning; these would materially delay the capacity uplift. Monitor the launch window on November 5, 2025, the ULA mission updates, and post-launch in-orbit test milestones for service entry timing.

Financial Operations Analyst

The announced launch and expected capacity increase support Viasat’s stated growth and cash-flow objectives if the satellite enters service as planned.

The company frames ViaSat-3 F2 as an enabler of customer growth and higher earnings power through additional bandwidth for commercial and government customers; increased capacity typically translates to higher revenue potential when demand exists. The connection between the asset and financial objectives lies in utilizing that capacity across existing service platforms to scale users and performance.

Dependencies include the timing of commercial service entry in early 2026 and the pace of customer ramp on the added capacity. Concrete items to watch: launch execution on November 5, 2025, official in-orbit test completion notices, and subsequent statements on capacity activation and customer migrations, which will clarify near-term revenue and free-cash-flow implications within the following quarters.

Expected to more than double Viasat’s current network capacity, ViaSat-3 F2 is designed to fuel customer growth, supporting next-generation connectivity platforms such as Viasat Amara, NexusWave, and Government Hybrid SATCOM Architecture

CARLSBAD, Calif., Oct. 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today confirmed the scheduled launch date of its ViaSat-3 F2 satellite is November 5, 2025, during a window opening at 10:24PM ET. The satellite will be launched aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V551 from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Following launch, the satellite will spend several months traveling to geostationary orbit and will provide broadband services from an orbital slot located at 79° west longitude. It will go through rigorous in-orbit testing of both the bus and payload before entering service, still expected to occur in early 2026. The ViaSat-3 satellites are each designed to provide coverage over nearly one-third of the Earth and ViaSat-3 F2 is expected to provide services over the Americas to address increasing customer demand. Launched in 2023, the ViaSat-3 F1 satellite will also continue to provide coverage over North America to meet user demand.

The innovative features of ViaSat-3 are designed to significantly enhance flexibility for satellite operations and the effective delivery of services to meet continuous and dynamic bandwidth demands. Once in service, ViaSat-3 F2 will add significant capacity to Viasat’s fleet and enable better support for customers by providing bandwidth where it’s needed most in real-time. The high throughput capacity will support applications including fast free Wi-Fi for commercial aviation, fixed broadband services for home internet, and resilient connectivity for government and defense mission operations.

“Demand for resilient, global satellite communications from commercial mobility, fixed broadband and defense customers is growing exponentially. The upcoming November 5th launch and anticipated commercial service entry of ViaSat-3 F2 is key to meeting that demand in our target markets as a part of our global, multi-orbit network roadmap,” said Mark Dankberg, Chairman and CEO, Viasat. “Beyond an incredible capacity increase, ViaSat-3 F2’s dynamic beam forming capabilities will greatly benefit our customers by efficiently deploying bandwidth to the highest demand places, allowing us to scale performance and the number and density of users. These capabilities will continue to fuel our successful, multi-orbit service offerings, including service platforms such as Viasat Amara, NexusWave, and a resilient, hybrid SATCOM architecture for government.”

“We’re excited about the next-generation technology and ultra-high-capacity capabilities of ViaSat-3 F2 and, most importantly, how that innovation supports delivery of reliable, high-performance services for customers,” said Gary Chase, Chief Financial Officer, Viasat. “The capacity and performance from ViaSat-3 F2 is expected to help us realize our plans for growth and support our financial objectives to increase earnings power and deliver growing free cash flow.”

Visit the Viasat website for more information about the ViaSat-3 constellation and the ULA mission page for more details around the upcoming launch.

About Viasat 

Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate and connect. Viasat is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to positively impact people's lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea, while building a sustainable future in space. In May 2023, Viasat completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and resources of the two companies to create a new global communications partner. Learn more at www.viasat.com, the Viasat News Room or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, and YouTube. 

Copyright © 2025 Viasat, Inc. All rights reserved. Viasat, the Viasat logo and the Viasat Signal are registered in the U.S and in other countries to Viasat, Inc. All other product or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Viasat, Inc. Contacts
Dan Bleier/Scott Goryl, Corporate Communications, PR@viasat.com
Lisa Curran/Peter Lopez, Investor Relations, +1 (760) 476-2633, IR@viasat.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward looking statements include among others, statements about the performance, capabilities and anticipated benefits of the ViaSat-3 class satellites, including projected capacity, coverage, performance and flexibility; the timing of launch and service entry of the ViaSat-3 F2 satellite; the ability of our existing and planned satellite fleet to capture growing demand in our target markets; and the ability of the ViaSat-3 F2 satellite to help accelerate growth, increase earnings power and deliver positive free cash flow. Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: risks associated with the construction, launch and operation of the ViaSat-3 class satellites, including the effect of any anomaly, operational failure or degradation in satellite performance; the ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the ViaSat-3 satellite platforms; unexpected expenses or delays related to the satellite system; the ability to successfully implement Viasat's business plan for broadband satellite services on Viasat's anticipated timeline or at all, including with respect to the ViaSat-3 satellite platform; contractual problems, product defects, manufacturing issues or delays; regulatory issues; technologies not being developed according to anticipated schedules, or that do not perform according to expectations; and increased competition and other factors affecting the connectivity sector, generally. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in Viasat's SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including Viasat's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Viasat undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.

FAQ

When will Viasat (VSAT) launch ViaSat-3 F2?

ViaSat-3 F2 is scheduled to launch on November 5, 2025, window opening at 10:24 PM ET.

What launch vehicle will carry ViaSat-3 F2 for VSAT?

ViaSat-3 F2 will launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V551 from Cape Canaveral.

Where will ViaSat-3 F2 provide coverage and orbital location for VSAT?

The satellite will provide services over the Americas from geostationary orbit at 79° west longitude.

When is ViaSat-3 F2 expected to enter commercial service for VSAT?

After several months of transit and in-orbit testing, commercial service is expected in early 2026.

How will ViaSat-3 F2 affect Viasat (VSAT) network capacity?

ViaSat-3 F2 is expected to more than double Viasat’s current network capacity once in service.

What customer applications will ViaSat-3 F2 support for VSAT?

The satellite will support commercial aviation Wi-Fi, fixed home broadband, and resilient government and defense connectivity.