Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT) has been selected for the Gulfstream G280™ mid-sized business jet airframe — the Viasat in-flight connectivity system will be a line-fit option, offered directly from the Gulfstream factory for all new aircraft and will also be available as a retrofit for in-service aircraft.
The Viasat Ka-band in-flight connectivity service is proven to support more passengers and more devices simultaneously through all phases of flight, when performing bandwidth-intensive applications, including accessing virtual private networks, or streaming high-definition video calls, cloud content or live TV entertainment.
New G280 aircraft can be equipped with Viasat's Ka-band connectivity system during production. Initial speeds offered are expected to be 16 Mbps, and Viasat expects those speeds to increase as it brings more capacity online. In addition, Viasat will offer a live TV streaming feature, which will give passengers the ability to watch live TV, content and entertainment on their portable electronic devices—without affecting their data plan.
New G280 aircraft equipped with Viasat's Global Aero Terminal 5510 will tap into the ViaSat-1, ViaSat-2 and European Ka-band satellite platforms as of this writing, and will be forward-compatible with Viasat's future-generation satellite constellation, ViaSat-3 — enabling the use of ViaSat-3 capacity with no additional hardware upgrades required. ViaSat-3 is an ultra-high capacity satellite platform, which will be comprised of three ViaSat-3 class satellites offering global coverage. Each ViaSat-3 satellite is expected to deliver one terabit per second capacity, which is more than the total network capacity of the approximately 400 commercial communications satellites in space today — combined.
Viasat's Global Aero Terminal 5510 is a highly-suitable connectivity solution for mid-sized cabin executive jets due to being the most compact business aviation internet system on the market. Its smaller size provides key advantages: it does not require space in the luggage compartment, enabling it to be installed in the non-pressurized areas of the aircraft and it lowers overall installed system weight compared to many competing offerings, which can potentially offer fuel savings.
Executive Comments
Rick Trusis, VP, Mid-Cabin Programs, said that GulfstreamG280 owners want their internet experience to mimic what they have on the ground. Viasat’s Ka-band connectivity system will meet those needs by delivering the connection speed, performance and reliability our mid-sized business jet customers expect.
Jerry Goodwin, VP, Network Services, Viasat added that being named Gulfstream’s connectivity provider on the G280 airframe is a great milestone for the Company and is a true testament to the strength of the company's technology and service offering. Viasat is proud to have been selected to provide Gulfstream mid-cabin business jet owners an unparalleled connectivity experience. The company has full confidence that Viasat's high-capacity satellites — available immediately — and those that are planned for future launches — will ensure business jet owners can meet their connectivity expectations anywhere they fly across the globe.
For more information about the Viasat/Gulfstream partnership, or to see a live demo of the Ka-band aviation connectivity system, visit Viasat at NBAA 2018 in Booth 1254.
