Viasat (American company)
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications, Satellite communications |
| Founded | May 1986 |
| Founder | Mark Dankberg, Mark Miller, Steve Hart |
| Headquarters | Carlsbad, California , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Mark D. Dankberg (Chairman and CEO), Richard A. Baldridge (Vice Chairman), Gary Chase (CFO), Kevin Harkenrider (COO) |
| Products | Satellite broadband connectivity, secure networking solutions, military communication devices, satellite modems, information distribution systems, tactical data links, mobile satellite communications, antennas, VSAT networks, broadband services |
| Revenue | $4.284 billion (FY 2024) |
| Total assets | $16.33 billion (FY 2024) |
| Total equity | $5.025 billion (FY 2024) |
Number of employees | 7,500 (2024) |
| Website | www |
Viasat, Inc. (previously known as ViaSat) is a U.S.-based communications firm headquartered in Carlsbad, California, operating on a global scale. The company delivers high-speed satellite broadband connectivity alongside secure networking solutions tailored for both military and commercial sectors. Its range of products encompasses military communication devices, advanced satellite modems, multifunctional information distribution systems (MIDS), tactical data links, mobile satellite communications, antenna technologies, VSAT networks, and broadband offerings. Viasat’s core services emphasize secure network infrastructures and satellite internet accessibility.
Established in 1986, Viasat has evolved into a prominent telecommunications entity, applying its technological expertise to serve a variety of markets internationally. The leadership team includes Chairman and CEO Mark D. Dankberg, Vice Chairman Richard A. Baldridge, CFO Gary Chase, and COO Kevin Harkenrider. For fiscal year 2024, the company reported revenues of $4.284 billion, with total assets amounting to $16.33 billion and shareholders’ equity at $5.025 billion. The workforce comprises roughly 7,500 employees.
Viasat’s corporate approach prioritizes pioneering advancements in satellite technology to sustain competitive positioning and broaden its influence within commercial broadband and defense arenas. The organizational framework supports numerous subsidiaries and worldwide operations, facilitating continuous expansion and investment potential.
History
ViaSat was established in May 1986 by Mark Dankberg, Mark Miller, and Steve Hart. Dankberg assumed the role of CEO while Miller and Hart served as CTOs. Initial funding included $300,000 from Southern California Ventures.
The company went public on NASDAQ in December 1996, generating approximately $20 million by issuing shares at $4.50 each. Founders maintained a 28% ownership stake while venture capitalists held 20%. In 1999, ViaSat moved its headquarters to Carlsbad, California.
In 2000, ViaSat created TrellisWare Technology as a spin-off focused on communications and signal processing systems. That same year, it acquired Scientific-Atlanta’s satellite networking division for $75 million to enhance its interactive business services.
In 2001, ViaSat collaborated with Boeing on Connexion broadband services for commercial airlines and purchased Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications' Comsat Laboratories unit to develop bandwidth-efficient satellite transmission technologies. Additionally, it acquired US Monolithics for about $30 million to expand its capabilities in high-frequency broadband circuitry.
ViaSat also supplied Eutelsat with LinkStar IP terminals for Ku-band broadband networks in 2001 and entered a joint venture with Loral Skynet to advance Immeon Networks’ satellite bandwidth-on-demand offerings. It secured contracts with WildBlue Communications to manufacture satellite modems and gateway systems supporting WildBlue’s initial internet service launch in 2004; this service was upgraded in 2007 with the deployment of the WildBlue-1 satellite.
The company grew through acquisitions including Efficient Channel Coding (broadband communication ICs) in 2005; defense technology firm Enerdyne in 2006; and Swiss-based JAST Antenna Systems specializing in microwave circuits and antennas in 2007.
In December 2009, ViaSat purchased WildBlue for $568 million, acquiring the WildBlue-1 satellite along with Ka-band capacity on Telesat's Anik F2 satellite. In 2010, it acquired Stonewood Group, a UK encryption specialist.
Viasat expanded its global presence by opening new facilities: Duluth, Georgia (2013); Tempe, Arizona (2015), focusing on microwave communications and cybersecurity; Chennai, India (2016) dedicated to research and development; and Bryan, Texas (2017).
Subsequent acquisitions included cloud networking provider LonoCloud (2013); WiFi management firm NetNearU (2014); Gray Labs specializing in satellite communications for intelligence and surveillance applications (2014); network virtualization company Engreen (2015); ASIC/FPGA design firm EAI Design Services (2015); and aviation software developer Arconics based in Dublin (2016).
In 2017, ViaSat announced plans for a joint venture with Eutelsat to operate KA-SAT satellite broadband services throughout Europe from Lausanne, Switzerland; however, this collaboration was discontinued in 2018.
June 2017 saw the launch of ViaSat’s third satellite, ViaSat-2, with plans underway for the ViaSat-3 constellation expected to commence launches by 2020.
In December 2020, ViaSat acquired RigNet to enhance its secure managed networking offerings within its Global Enterprise and Mobility division.
In May 2021, ViaSat initiated legal challenges against SpaceX’s Starlink satellite launches citing environmental concerns but was denied by both the FCC and judicial authorities.
November 2021 marked ViaSat’s announcement of a $7.3 billion acquisition of UK-based Inmarsat involving cash payments, stock issuance, and debt assumption; the merger received provisional regulatory clearance from UK authorities in March 2023 and was finalized on May 31, 2023.
In October 2022, L3Harris agreed to acquire ViaSat's Tactical Data Link product line for $1.96 billion; this transaction closed in January 2023.
In January 2024, China imposed sanctions on ViaSat related to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan but lifted these restrictions by July 2024.
By June 2025, ViaSat was identified as a target of Salt Typhoon cyberattacks attributed to the Chinese government.
Viasat cyberattack
On February 24, 2022, coinciding with the onset of Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, a targeted cyberattack disabled thousands of Viasat modems, causing widespread internet outages for numerous European customers that lasted more than a month. By March 31, researchers at SentinelOne uncovered a novel wiper malware called AcidRain, engineered to irreversibly disable routers. Viasat acknowledged the use of AcidRain in this incident. This malware contains code segments linked to VPNFilter, a 2018 router-targeting campaign attributed by the FBI to Russian military actors. Subsequently, on May 10, 2022, the European Union formally condemned the assault on Viasat’s KA-SAT network as an act of Russian cyber aggression.
Controversy
In May 2019, UK politician Priti Patel commenced a role as a strategic adviser for Viasat, receiving £5,000 monthly for approximately five hours of work each month. This appointment occurred without prior clearance from the government's Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, prompting allegations of a second breach of the ministerial code.
Satellites
In July 2013, Viasat secured FCC authorization for Ka-band aeronautical earth stations, bolstering its satellite communications operations. The company manages four principal satellites: ViaSat-1, WildBlue-1, Anik-F2, and ViaSat-2.
- Anik-F2, launched in 2004 and owned by Telesat, features Ka-band capacity operated by Viasat.
- WildBlue-1, deployed in December 2006 from French Guiana and activated in early 2007, supports Viasat’s broadband offerings.
- ViaSat-1, constructed by Space Systems/Loral and launched in October 2011, began service in January 2012. It delivers Ka-band fixed beam coverage to residential markets across the U.S., including Hawaii, Canada, and Alaska.
- ViaSat-2, developed jointly with Boeing and launched in July 2017, expanded service areas to include Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, northern South America, as well as transatlantic aeronautical and maritime corridors. It entered operational status in February 2018.
In November 2015, Viasat unveiled plans for the ViaSat-3 constellation—comprising three Ka-band satellites designed to provide worldwide coverage with each satellite capable of one terabit per second throughput, exceeding the combined capacity of existing satellites. The constellation was projected to become operational by 2022.
By November 2020, Viasat completed acquisition of full ownership over the KA-SAT assets previously held jointly with Eutelsat. This move aligns with Viasat’s strategic objectives to prepare for the ViaSat-3 Americas launch slated for late 2021 and a subsequent satellite targeting Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in 2022.
Launch agreements include missions aboard SpaceX Falcon Heavy and United Launch Alliance Atlas V vehicles for deploying ViaSat-3 satellites within the same period, underscoring Viasat’s commitment to broadening its global footprint and increasing market share in satellite broadband services.
Viasat Internet
Introduced in 2012 under the brand Exede, Viasat Internet delivers broadband connectivity to regions underserved by traditional terrestrial providers. In 2013, residential Voice home service was added alongside data packages. The company expanded into commercial internet solutions with Exede Business in 2014.
Utilizing the ViaSat-1 satellite launched in 2011—designed for North American coverage—Viasat offers substantial capacity through 72 spot beams covering the continental United States, Hawaii, and Canada via Xplornet. Valued at $400 million with an anticipated operational lifespan of 15 years, ViaSat-1 was succeeded by ViaSat-2 in 2017 which further enhanced capacity and geographic reach.
Originally targeting gaps left by terrestrial broadband providers, Viasat Internet initially provided download speeds up to 12 Mbit/s—outperforming earlier satellite options—and introduced a faster 25 Mbit/s tier with upgraded modems in 2016. The Exede brand was phased out in favor of Viasat Internet in 2017. Coverage extends across most of the continental U.S. and Hawaii; Federal Communications Commission data from 2012 through 2015 confirmed that advertised speeds were met or exceeded.
While download speeds are competitive within satellite broadband offerings, latency from geostationary satellites exceeds 600 milliseconds—posing challenges for latency-sensitive applications such as videoconferencing and gaming when compared to low Earth orbit systems like Starlink.
Additionally, Viasat offers residential VoIP telephone services through its Viasat Voice Services division. Major distributors including DirecTV and Dish Network resell Viasat Internet under their own branding to broaden customer access.
In-flight internet
Viasat introduced its in-flight WiFi service aboard JetBlue flights in December 2013. By 2014, the service was installed on 190 aircraft, increasing to 420 planes by November 2015. The company extended this connectivity offering to additional airlines such as United Airlines, American Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Delta, El Al, Aeroméxico, and Qantas. Utilizing dual-band technology, Viasat supports simultaneous internet access for more than 150 passengers per aircraft, strengthening its position within the in-flight connectivity sector.
International internet
In 2017, Viasat collaborated with Grupo Prosperist in Mexico to establish Community Wi-Fi, a centralized hotspot initiative aimed at providing affordable satellite internet to underserved rural communities. By 2019, this network had connected over one million users throughout Mexico. That same year, Facebook invested in Community Wi-Fi to broaden high-speed satellite internet availability across remote areas worldwide.
July 2020 saw Viasat launch a high-speed residential internet service in Brazil, capitalizing on bandwidth supplied by the Telebras SGDC-1 satellite. This Wi-Fi solution, requiring minimal infrastructure, covered eight states including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Pernambuco, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, the Federal District, and Amazonas.
Security systems
Viasat manufactures Eclypt encrypted hard drives and external USB storage devices designed for governments, military units, and law enforcement agencies to safeguard sensitive information from unauthorized access.
Debuting in 2013, Viasat Critical Infrastructure Security protects national grid systems through encrypted sensor deployment and continuous monitoring of anomalies via a dedicated security operations center. Partnering with Southern California Edison and supported by U.S. Department of Energy funding, Viasat enhances cybersecurity defenses for electric grid and oil and gas infrastructures against cyber threats.
Government communications
Viasat delivers mobile two-way satellite broadband solutions tailored for the United States Government, with an emphasis on tactical communication capabilities for the US military. Its portfolio includes secure tactical data links, encrypted data transfer assurance, and satellite communications that provide real-time intelligence to support command and control operations. The US government employs Viasat’s ArcLight technology over a managed private network utilizing Ku-band satellite connections and benefits from the Yonder global satellite network infrastructure. Viasat’s worldwide satellite broadband services facilitate airborne mobile communications through initiatives such as an airborne mobility program for C-17 aircraft featuring encrypted satellite-to-hub links. Additionally, the company’s Satellite Access Manager (SAM) optimizes Department of Defense missions by enhancing bandwidth utilization and enabling real-time network oversight for ArcLight2 broadband terminals during airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance activities.