Your Daily Briefing Of Satellite

Your Daily Briefing Of Satellite Industry News

Connexion by Boeing Expanding, Orders More Modems from ViaSat

CARLSBAD, Calif., and Seattle, Wash., Aug. 17/Satnews Daily/ — ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT) has received a follow-on order for an additional 85 airborne modems from Connexion by Boeing, a division of Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA).

These modems will be utilized to expand the Connexion by Boeing network, now serving seven airlines that are either under contract or intending to offer the real-time, high-speed in-flight Internet service to their passengers. Deliveries of the modems from this order are scheduled to begin in early 2005.

John Hoffman, director, ViaSat Mobile Broadband Systems, said the significant order from Connexion by Boeing is a reflection of the positive reception the service is having with the commercial airlines. “The service is off to a very positive start and it appears that airline passengers are creating a pull for the service, and our technology, in the marketplace," he said.

ViaSat has supplied ground and airborne modems for the Connexion by Boeing service on commercial airlines since 2002. ViaSat has already delivered about 150 modems with the new order increasing the backlog to well over 100 additional modems.

Connexion by Boeing initiated services with launch customer Lufthansa in May 2004. The service is offered by Lufthansa on multiple routes between the US and Europe and also between Japan and Europe. Connexion by Boeing is also expanding the breadth of its network to include the business jet market under its eXchange partnership with Rockwell Collins and its recent announcement of maritime trial services with Teekay Shipping.