Viasat's Arctic Broadband Dedicated Coverage Advances as Payloads Enter Service Onboard Space Norway’s Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission Spacecraft
Rhea-AI Summary
Viasat (NASDAQ: VSAT) has announced that its GX10A and GX10B satellite payloads are now operational for government customers in the Arctic region, with commercial services planned for fiscal year 2026. The payloads, launched in August 2024, are part of Space Norway's Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission spacecraft and operate in a Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO).
The project marks Viasat's first extension beyond geostationary orbit, providing uninterrupted connectivity across the polar region through its Global Xpress (GX) network. The satellites include hosted payloads for Norwegian Military, U.S. Government, and radiation monitoring for the European Commission. Viasat plans to expand its capabilities with five new Ka-band satellites under construction.
Positive
- Successfully completed in-orbit testing and activated government services in the Arctic region
- Expansion into new market segment with dedicated Arctic coverage capabilities
- First extension beyond geostationary orbit, demonstrating technological advancement
- Five additional Ka-band satellites under construction for future capacity expansion
Negative
- Commercial maritime and aviation services delayed until fiscal year 2026
Insights
Viasat expands network coverage to Arctic region with new satellite payloads, creating strategic government revenue now and commercial opportunities in 2026.
Viasat has achieved a significant operational milestone with its GX10A and GX10B satellite payloads now delivering services for government customers in the Arctic region, with commercial maritime and aviation services planned throughout fiscal year 2026. These payloads, hosted on Space Norway's Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission spacecraft (ASBM-1 and ASBM-2), were launched in August 2024 and have successfully completed in-orbit testing.
This development is strategically important for Viasat for several reasons. First, it marks Viasat's expansion beyond geostationary orbit into Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) operations, diversifying their orbital portfolio and enabling true multi-orbit service capabilities. This technical achievement positions Viasat to better compete with emerging LEO constellations by offering complementary coverage solutions.
From a business perspective, the Arctic region represents a growing market with limited competition. The polar regions have traditionally been underserved by satellite communications due to the challenges of covering high latitudes with conventional geostationary satellites. By addressing this coverage gap, Viasat can capture premium-priced government contracts immediately, while preparing for commercial maritime and aviation services next fiscal year.
The hosted payload approach with Space Norway demonstrates Viasat's capital-efficient expansion strategy. Rather than building and launching dedicated satellites, Viasat leveraged Space Norway's mission to place their payloads in orbit, reducing capital expenditure while achieving the desired coverage expansion.
Looking forward, Viasat's mention of five additional Ka-band satellites under construction signals continued investment in network capacity expansion. This positions the company for future growth across both government and commercial mobility markets, with the Arctic capability serving as a competitive differentiator in the increasingly crowded satellite broadband marketplace.
The milestone means high-speed coverage is now available for Government customers in the Arctic, with commercial services planned throughout fiscal year 2026.
CARLSBAD, Calif., May 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, has confirmed the GX10A and GX10B satellite payloads are now available to deliver services for government customers, with commercial maritime and aviation services anticipated to follow throughout fiscal year 2026. Viasat successfully completed in-orbit testing of the payloads late last year and government services are now available.
Launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in August 2024, the GX10A and GX10B payloads are housed on Space Norway’s Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission spacecraft — ASBM-1 and ASBM-2. The satellites feature hosted payloads for the Norwegian Military and the U.S. Government, as well as a radiation monitoring capability for the European Commission. For Viasat, the GX10A and GX10B payloads are aimed to provide broadband satellite coverage over the Arctic region for government and commercial customers.
The connectivity demands of governments, commercial mobility services and scientists over the Arctic region have been rapidly growing. These new payloads will expand the coverage area served by Viasat, further strengthening the company’s global coverage capabilities with this dedicated capacity for the Arctic region. These payloads also support Viasat’s roadmap of delivering multi-orbit services to support customers across markets.
The satellites operate in a Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) and extend Viasat’s network for markets including aviation, maritime, and governments beyond geostationary orbit for the first time. For Government customers, Viasat’s Global Xpress (GX) network provides high-speed Ka-band services across land, sea, and air, with the Arctic coverage extension now offering uninterrupted connectivity across the polar region.
Girish Chandran, Chief Technology Officer and President, Global Space Networks, said: “We would like to thank Space Norway, our project partners, and our teams for their continued hard work to make this project a reality. Bringing these payloads into service for government will help our vision to deliver the flexibility, coverage, and connectivity our customers need – wherever they operate.”
Susan Miller, President, Viasat Government, said: “We’re excited to begin delivering services in the Arctic region to support scientific research and enable assured, resilient communications for tactical and strategic government missions. This is another step in Viasat’s ability to provide innovative, multi-orbit solutions and services to meet the changing connectivity requirements of government customers worldwide.”
Viasat is planning to further expand its high-speed broadband capacity and capabilities for government and commercial mobility customers with five new Ka-band satellites currently under construction, which are expected to enter service during the course of the next few years.
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 trademarks in the U.S. and in other countries of 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
PR Contact – Richard Jones, Richard.Jones@viasat.com
Lisa Curran/Peter Lopez, Investor Relations, 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 that refer to the performance, capabilities and anticipated benefits of the GX10A and GX10B satellite payloads, including the coverage area; the planned commercial service entry of the GX10A and GX10B satellite payloads in FY26; and the service entry timing for the five additional Ka-band satellites currently under construction. Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially 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 satellites, including the effect of any anomaly, operational failure or degradation in satellite performance; unexpected expenses or delays related to our satellite projects; the ability to successfully implement our business plan for broadband services on our anticipated timeline or at all; contractual problems; product defects; manufacturing issues or delays; the effect of adverse regulatory changes (including changes affecting spectrum availability or permitted uses) on our ability to sell or deploy our products and services; changes in the way others use spectrum; our inability to access additional spectrum, use spectrum for additional purposes, and/or operate satellites at additional orbital locations; competing uses of the same spectrum or orbital locations that we utilize or seek to utilize; and technologies not being developed according to anticipated schedules, or that do not perform according to expectations. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in our SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including our 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. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2a15e338-3a5a-4cb5-98bc-b746778fb8f8
FAQ
When will Viasat's GX10A and GX10B satellite payloads begin commercial services in the Arctic?
What type of orbit do Viasat's new Arctic satellite payloads operate in?
Who are the current customers for Viasat's Arctic satellite coverage?
How many additional Ka-band satellites is Viasat constructing?
When were the VSAT Arctic satellite payloads launched?
