Viasat is preparing to launch its most advanced satellite yet, the ViaSat-3 F2. It is designed to expand network coverage and deliver faster internet services significantly. Scheduled for launch in late October, the F2 will ride on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 551 rocket. The new satellites double Viasat’s network capacity and compete with SpaceX’s Starlink and other providers.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
The launch comes at a critical juncture for Viasat. The company’s woes started when its ViaSat-3 F1 satellite experienced a large reflector malfunction shortly after its 2023 launch. While Viasat salvaged parts of the F1’s capabilities, the satellite could not deliver its full promised performance. Today, F1 primarily serves commercial jets flying over North America.
The F2 will take over services for customers in the Americas. Meanwhile, the F1 transitions to cover Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). A third satellite, F3, is planned to provide services across Asia. With these deployments, Viasat hopes to create a global satellite broadband network.
Unlike Starlink, which operates a constellation of thousands of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, Viasat focuses on fewer geostationary satellites. These are positioned more than 22,000 miles above the Earth. According to satellite industry analyst Caleb Henry of Quilty Space, “After the antenna malfunction on the F1 satellite, F2 stands to be the highest-capacity GEO satellite ever. This is to be the biggest test of GEO vs LEO.”
Market Competition and Customer Growth
Viasat is feeling pressure as Starlink expands rapidly. Starlink now serves over 2 million active U.S. customers, offering lower latency and faster speeds. Viasat, in comparison, reported only 172,000 fixed broadband customers in the U.S. as of last month. This is a sharp drop from 257,000 customers the previous year.
To regain market share, Viasat introduced its new Essentials plan. The Essential plan is priced at $49.99 for the first three months and $69.99 afterwards, with a 150GB high-speed data cap. The Unleashed plan, offering unlimited data, starts at $79.99 for the first three months and then rises to $99.99. However, Viasat still faces challenges with latency. This often reaches 680 milliseconds, which can affect activities like video conferencing and online gaming.
Next-Gen Connectivity
The F2 satellite represents Viasat’s opportunity to improve service reliability and speed. Expected to enter service in early 2026, it will determine whether geostationary satellites can effectively compete. The comparison will be with the performance and scalability of LEO constellations like Starlink.
TF Summary: What’s Next
Viasat’s F2 launch may improve its place in the satellite internet market. If successful, the satellite will bring faster internet speeds and expanded coverage to millions of users. However, the company must address latency and pricing concerns to compete with Starlink’s fast-growing LEO network. The tug-of-war between GEO and LEO satellites may determine who delivers the best, next-gen connectivity for the world.
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