ViaSat Receives $4.9 Million Order for Consumer Broadband Satellite System for Pegaso Banda Ancha
CARLSBAD, Calif., Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ViaSat (NASDAQ:VSAT) has finalized a contract to supply its SurfBeam(R) broadband satellite networking system to Mexico-based Pegaso Banda Ancha for consumer Internet access services in Latin America. The initial service rollout will cover Mexico, but plans include marketing the service to all of Central and South America as well. The value of the contract is approximately $4.9 million and deliveries of the network hub and terminals have already begun.
"Through our strategic relationships with ViaSat and PanAmSat, we will be able to provide consumers with the first broadband satellite communications alternative throughout Mexico, Central and South America at very competitive prices," said Javier Braun Burillo, general director of Pegaso Banda Ancha.
The Pegaso Banda Ancha network will connect to the Internet backbone through the PanAmSat Teleport in Atlanta, Georgia, using extended Ku-band capacity on the PAS-1R satellite. PAS-1R, one of the largest and most powerful commercial geostationary satellites ever launched, offers an expanded and enhanced reach throughout the Americas, Caribbean, Europe and Africa. The Atlanta teleport is PanAmSat's primary satellite transmissions gateway to Africa, Europe, Latin America and North America. It provides crucial turnaround services between the Atlantic Ocean Region and the U.S.
"We're delighted that Pegaso has chosen our SurfBeam system for this very large scale, consumer broadband system," said Jorge Vespoli, vice president of worldwide sales for ViaSat. "Based on our DOCSIS-for-satellite technology, this project is unprecedented both in terms of its potential scale and of the leading technology that will be deployed and available for consumers. We are very proud that Pegaso Banda Ancha selected ViaSat and SurfBeam for this very ambitious project in Latin America."
The ViaSat SurfBeam system is a new approach to broadband satellite communication that makes satellite a cost-effective medium for broadband delivery through efficient use of satellite bandwidth, low cost consumer terminals, and mature back office and customer service systems. The open standard network adapts the cable modem networking standard called DOCSIS(R) (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) to satellite transmission. Because the DOCSIS broadband networking standard is already used by millions of terrestrial cable customers, the technology is highly developed and low-cost in terms of modem chipsets, hub (head end) hardware, installation, and customer support.
About Pegaso Banda Ancha
Pegaso Banda Ancha is owned by Grupo Pegaso, a private group headed by Mr. Alejandro Burillo Azcarraga which has interest in various economic sectors in Mexico and the US, including investments in more than 30 Mexican and international companies, plus involvement in several social and cultural programs. In the telecommunications sector, it is the second most important shareholder in Telefonica Movistar de Mexico, the second largest wireless carrier in Mexico, owns 51% of PanAmSat de Mexico which offers satellite bandwidth, and recently invested in Neology Inc., a leading California-based RFID company.
The company is known as the undisputed leader in providing sports content and Internet applications in Mexico, owns and operates various cable television companies, and is also a partner of Acacia Inc., a Mexican company that owns worldwide patents for streaming media.
Real estate holdings include Las Ventanas al Paraiso Hotel in Los Cabos, the Lion's Head Inn in Vail, Colorado, and part ownership of "Torre Arcos," the most important office building and a milestone in Mexican contemporary architecture. In addition the company is building La Solana Hotel in Punta Mita, Mexico, and is a leading developer of industrial warehouse real estate in Laredo, Texas.
Sports businesses include ownership of several professional soccer teams, among them "El Atlante" and a partnership in the "Real Madrid" soccer club. In addition the company owns the leading tennis tournament in Latin America, "Abierto Mexicano de Tenis."
About ViaSat
ViaSat produces innovative satellite and other communication products that enable fast, secure, and efficient communications to any location. Products include satellite ground equipment, information security devices, tactical data radios, and communication simulators. ViaSat has a full line of VSAT products for data and voice applications, and is a market leader in Ka-band satellite systems, from user terminals to large gateways. ViaSat has locations in Carlsbad, CA, and Norcross, GA, along with its Comsat Laboratories division in Clarksburg, MD. Additional field offices are located in Boston, MA, Washington DC, Australia, China, India, Italy, and Spain.
In addition, ViaSat's wholly-owned subsidiary, U.S. Monolithics, designs and produces monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) and modules for use in broadband communications. U.S. Monolithics is based in Chandler, Arizona.
Safe Harbor Statement
Portions of this release, particularly statements about future terminal orders and the capabilities of the SurfBeam system, may contain forward- looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. ViaSat wishes to caution you that there are some factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: ViaSat's ability to perform under existing contracts and obtain additional contracts, ViaSat's ability to develop new products that gain market acceptance, changes in product supply, pricing and customer demand, changes in relationships with, or the financial condition of, key customers or suppliers, changes in government regulations, changes in economic conditions globally and in the communications markets in particular, increased competition, potential product liability, infringement and other claims, and other factors affecting the communications industry generally. ViaSat refers you to the documents it files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the section titled Factors That May Affect Future Performance in ViaSat's Form 10-K. These documents contain and identify other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward- looking statements. Stockholders and other readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements.
DOCSIS is a registered trademark of Cable Television Laboratories Inc.
Comsat Labs and Comsat Laboratories are trade names of ViaSat, Inc. Neither Comsat Labs nor Comsat Laboratories is affiliated with COMSAT Corporation. "Comsat" is a registered trademark of COMSAT Corporation.
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