# Viasat **Source:** https://geo.sig.ai/brands/viasat **Vertical:** Telecom & Communications **Subcategory:** Satellite **Tier:** Challenger **Website:** viasat.com **Last Updated:** 2026-04-14 ## Summary Viasat (NASDAQ: VSAT), satellite broadband for 500K+ subscribers via GEO satellites; acquired Inmarsat in 2023 for $7.3B, adding aviation, maritime, and government connectivity capabilities. ## Company Overview Viasat Inc. is an American satellite communications and cybersecurity technology company headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and listed on NASDAQ. The company provides satellite broadband internet services to residential, commercial aviation, maritime, and government customers, primarily via its fleet of high-throughput geostationary satellites including the ViaSat-3 series. Viasat acquired Inmarsat in 2023 for $7.3 billion, significantly expanding its fleet, government, and aviation connectivity businesses.\n\nViasat's Government Systems segment is a major supplier of tactical data links, satellite communication terminals, and cybersecurity products to the U.S. military and allied defense forces. This defense business provides a stable, high-margin revenue base that differentiates Viasat from pure commercial satellite operators. The combination with Inmarsat added L-band global maritime and aviation SATCOM capabilities complementing Viasat's Ka-band broadband offering.\n\nViasat faces intense competition from SpaceX Starlink, which has disrupted the satellite broadband market with its low Earth orbit constellation offering lower latency at competitive prices. Viasat has been challenged by higher launch costs and satellite anomalies, but its ViaSat-3 fleet and the Inmarsat integration position it as a full-spectrum satellite services provider for aviation, maritime, enterprise, and government customers that require reliable GEO-based global coverage. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the difference between Viasat and Starlink? Viasat operates geostationary (GEO) satellites providing high-capacity broadband with higher latency, while Starlink uses low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites for lower-latency internet; Viasat focuses more on aviation, maritime, and government markets. ### Who did Viasat acquire in 2023? Viasat acquired Inmarsat in 2023 for $7.3 billion, adding L-band global satellite communication capabilities for aviation and maritime markets and significantly expanding its government connectivity business. ### Does Viasat have a defense business? Yes, Viasat's Government Systems segment is a significant US defense contractor supplying tactical data links, satellite terminals, cybersecurity products, and intelligence solutions to the US military and allied governments. ### What is Viasat and what satellite connectivity does it provide? Viasat is a US satellite communications and technology company providing high-capacity broadband internet services via geostationary satellites to residential customers in underserved areas, in-flight Wi-Fi to airline passengers, and government and defense satellite communications, serving markets where terrestrial broadband is unavailable or insufficient. ### How does Viasat's in-flight Wi-Fi service work? Viasat provides in-flight broadband connectivity to commercial airline passengers via its high-capacity Ka-band satellite network, with its 2-Way satellite system delivering higher speeds per aircraft than previous generations of in-flight Wi-Fi — used by airlines including American Airlines and JetBlue for cabin connectivity. ### What government and defense services does Viasat provide? Viasat provides satellite communications, tactical data links, and cybersecurity solutions to the US military and allied government customers, including secure airborne communication systems, encrypted satellite terminals, and tactical networking products that represent a significant portion of Viasat's revenue. ### What is Viasat-3 and what are its capabilities? Viasat-3 is Viasat's third-generation satellite constellation designed to deliver significantly higher capacity than its predecessors, with coverage across the Americas and planned global expansion, intended to provide higher bandwidth residential broadband, improved in-flight Wi-Fi, and enhanced government communications services. ### How does Viasat position against newer LEO satellite broadband providers? Viasat competes against LEO providers like Starlink primarily on the basis of its established in-flight Wi-Fi relationships with airlines and its government satellite communications business, while acknowledging that LEO's lower latency may be better suited for some applications — with Viasat targeting high-capacity use cases where its GEO capacity still provides advantages. ## Tags telecom, global, enterprise, public, north-america, b2b, b2c, infrastructure, hardware, technology, cybersecurity --- *Data from geo.sig.ai Brand Intelligence Database. Updated 2026-04-14.*