Qantas Taps ViaSat for Highest-Speed, Highest-Quality In-Flight Wi-Fi and Streaming Internet Services

CARLSBAD, Calif., Feb. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT), a global broadband services and technology company, announced today it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) agreement with Qantas Airways, Australia's largest domestic and international airline, to bring the fastest and highest-quality in-flight internet connectivity to Qantas passengers on its domestic flights.

The agreement with Qantas is significant to ViaSat, as it represents the broadband company's first Asia Pacific airline to select its in-flight internet service, as well as the first airline in the region to choose its single, hybrid Ku/Ka-band antenna – which will keep Qantas aircraft connected to the best available satellite network.  

The new service expects to feature speeds that are up to 10 times faster than traditional global ground-based in-flight internet services, allowing Qantas customers to stream movies, TV shows, news and live sports. Additionally, by using ViaSat's hybrid Ku/Ka‑band antenna, the internet service will operate across both ViaSat's global Ku-band network and nbn's Sky Muster™ high-capacity Ka-band satellites, keeping Qantas passengers connected virtually everywhere they fly.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said, "Bringing high-speed Wi-Fi to Australia's domestic aviation market has been an ambition of ours for a long time – and with ViaSat we now have the right partner to make it happen. Our goal is to give our customers a similar internet experience on board to what they enjoy on the ground."   

"As a global broadband services provider we are bringing the best internet service – with the highest capacity, speeds and take-rates – to Qantas passengers, ensuring they enjoy the ultimate in-flight internet experience," said Mark Dankberg, chairman and CEO, ViaSat. "We know as a premium airline, Qantas must deliver on its promise to bring quality services to its customers, and we are flattered Qantas selected ViaSat as its in-flight partner of choice."

Under the MOU in-flight internet trials are expected to begin in late 2016, on Qantas Boeing 737 aircraft. A full roll-out across the Qantas domestic fleet of A330s and B737s is planned to begin in 2017, with aircraft to be outfitted with in-cabin Wi-Fi hotspots, an internet modem and ViaSat's advanced satellite antenna and radome technology.

About ViaSat's In-Flight Internet ServiceViaSat's high capacity Ka-band in-flight internet service is currently deployed on nearly 500 commercial planes in the U.S. The service provides gate-to-gate internet access with the highest-speed connections and highest-quality streaming video experiences to each passenger's connected device. With unmatched in-flight internet quality, performance and scale, passengers gain access to the real internet for high-speed web browsing, video streaming and productivity applications. The service has been recognized with multiple industry awards in delivering the best in-flight internet experience with speeds ranging from 12 to 20 Mbps to each connected device.

About QantasFounded in regional Queensland in 1920 – as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services – Qantas is one of Australia's most iconic brands and has played a central role in the development of the Australian and international aviation industry. 

Today the Qantas Group is a diverse global aviation business, comprising Qantas Domestic, Qantas International, the Jetstar low-cost carrier group and Qantas Loyalty. In total, the Qantas Group operates more than 7,300 flights each week and, together with its codeshare and oneworld partners, offers flights to more than 1000 destinations around the world. Its fleet numbers 300 aircraft with an average age of eight years including the acclaimed Qantas A380 and the Jetstar Boeing 787 Dreamliner. 

Qantas is ranked the world's safest airline by AirlineRatings.com, one of the top 10 airlines in the world by Skytrax, and holds many major awards for service, food and wine, technology and innovation.

The Qantas Group carries over 50 million passengers each year and employs around 30,000 people. 

About ViaSatViaSat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT) keeps the world connected. As a global broadband services and technology company, ViaSat ensures consumers, businesses, governments and military personnel have communications access - anywhere - whether on the ground or in-flight. The Company's innovations in designing highest-capacity satellites and secure ground infrastructure and terminal technologies coupled with its international network of managed Wi-Fi hotspots enable ViaSat to deliver a best available network that extends the reach and accessibility of broadband internet service, globally. For more information visit ViaSat at:  www.viasat.com, or follow the Company on social media:  Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis 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 about the planned use of the ViaSat service on Qantas, execution of a final contract from Qantas, performance, expected capacity, service, speeds, coverage and other features of the internet service, and the timing, cost, economics and other benefits associated therewith, and the dates of installation, trials and roll-out on Qantas. 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: unexpected expenses or delays related to nbn satellite projects; risks associated with the operation of the satellite used to supply these new services, including the effect of any anomaly, operational failure or degradation in satellite performance; 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 industries generally. 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.

Copyright © 2016 ViaSat, Inc. All rights reserved. All other product or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. ViaSat is a registered trademark of ViaSat, Inc.

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SOURCE ViaSat Inc.