ViaSat Exede Debuts First Virtually Unlimited Satellite Internet Service in Hawaii
CARLSBAD, Calif., Aug. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning this week, ViaSat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT) will offer Exede® high-speed satellite internet plans that provide households across the Hawaiian Islands with virtually unlimited data usage for communications, web browsing, and streaming media.
Virtually unlimited satellite internet service -- providing at least 150 GBs of monthly data without a strict data allowance -- is another notable first for ViaSat, a company with a history of leadership in technology and market innovation. Its Exede Internet consumer service, powered by the world's highest capacity communications satellite ViaSat-1, was the first high-speed satellite service to reach a significant portion of the U.S., including rural and remote areas that had historically limited internet options.
With the recent growth in household data usage, especially for streaming services, ViaSat is again leading the industry in addressing customers' needs for higher data volumes with its Freedom plan.
"The Freedom plan shows our dedication to continually improving the customer experience and responding to their desire for more data," said Lisa Scalpone, vice president, Broadband. "With Exede Internet, we've shown that we can deliver high speeds at reasonable cost to virtually anyone in the U.S. Now we're excited to demonstrate that satellite internet can deliver data volumes that are competitive with wireline services."
Hawaiian communities are among a number of limited markets in the U.S. selected for the Freedom plan. New plans in other areas of the country offer double or triple current data allowances for new subscribers. "Within the coverage we have on ViaSat-1, our objective is to put our available bandwidth to work for the benefit of our customers," said Scalpone.
Pricing for a six-month promotion of the Freedom plan is $69.99/month. The promotion is available to new subscribers through Nov. 15. Enhanced data plans will be offered to current Exede subscribers this fall in certain geographic areas.
"Exede Internet reaches the Hawaiian Islands with high speed service, which a great advantage for many residents, especially those in rural and remote areas," said Rich Beezley, broadband manager for Microcom, serving the Hawaiian Islands. "However, the data cap has been one of satellite internet's limitations. We're very excited about the introduction of this virtually unlimited Exede Internet plan here, which will meet our customers' needs for more data for communications and streaming."
ViaSat also offers Exede In The Air high-speed in-flight internet for airline passengers on JetBlue and United; Exede Business for added speed and data tailored to business subscribers; and Exede Enterprise communications for live events, field operations and disaster response. In a June 2014 report from the FCC, Exede Internet led 14 other internet services in delivering advertised speed, with peak period upload and download speeds of approximately 140 percent of what is promoted. This is the second consecutive year that Exede Internet's performance was at the top of the charts in the agency's annual independent study, "Measuring Broadband America."
ViaSat has also announced plans for another groundbreaking satellite, ViaSat-2, now in development. Its launch, planned for 2016, is expected to facilitate a significant expansion of Exede services, capacity, speed, and coverage areas.
For more information, please visit exede.com.
About Exede (www.exede.com)
Exede, a service of ViaSat Inc., delivers high-speed internet to residential subscribers and businesses across the U.S. With download speeds of up to 12 Mbps, the Exede service has transformed satellite internet for households that previously had slow, inadequate internet service. ViaSat also offers Exede Voice residential telephone service over its network, optimized for quality and reliability. In 2014, the company introduced Exede Business, a 15 Mbps service that includes a generous data allowance and 24 x 7 U.S.-based customer support.
About ViaSat (www.viasat.com)
ViaSat creates satellite and other wireless networking systems that efficiently deliver the most bandwidth for fast, secure, and high-quality communications to any location for consumers, governments, enterprises, and the military. The company offers Exede services in North America, which feature ViaSat-1, the world's highest capacity satellite; worldwide mobile satellite services, including global tracking and messaging as well as high-speed in-flight internet; satellite broadband networking systems; and network-centric military communication systems and cybersecurity for the U.S. and allied governments. ViaSat also offers communication system design and a number of complementary products and technologies. Based in Carlsbad, California, ViaSat employs over 3,300 people in a number of locations worldwide for technology development, customer service, and network operations.
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 statements about increased data usage, download speeds, consistent results, expansion of services, capacity, speed and coverage areas, and about the future launch and capabilities of ViaSat-2. ViaSat wishes to caution you that there are some factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including but not limited to: the ability to successfully implement ViaSat's business plan for broadband satellite services on ViaSat's anticipated timeline or at all; risks associated with the construction, launch and operation of ViaSat's satellites, including the effect of any anomaly, operational failure or degradation in satellite performance; negative audits by the U.S. government; continued turmoil in the global business environment and economic conditions; delays in approving U.S. government budgets and cuts in government defense expenditures; ViaSat's reliance on U.S. government contracts, and on a small number of contracts which account for a significant percentage of ViaSat's revenues; the ability to successfully develop, introduce and sell new technologies, products and services; reduced demand for products as a result of continued constraints on capital spending by customers; changes in relationships with, or the financial condition of, key customers or suppliers; reliance on a limited number of third parties to manufacture and supply ViaSat's products; increased competition and other factors affecting the communications and defense industries generally; the effect of adverse regulatory changes on ViaSat's ability to sell products and services; ViaSat's level of indebtedness and ability to comply with applicable debt covenants; ViaSat's involvement in litigation, including intellectual property claims and litigation to protect proprietary technology; and ViaSat's dependence on a limited number of key employees. 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.
Exede is a registered trademark of ViaSat Inc.
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091216/VIASATLOGO
SOURCE ViaSat Inc.
WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?
Newsrooms &
Influencers
Digital Media
Outlets
Journalists
Opted In
Share this article