Viasat has launched its next-gen satellite to increase capacity and successfully demonstrated a new real-time data relay service for NASA.

The demands on satellite connectivity have splintered into two distinct, pressing needs: raw bandwidth scale to manage data-heavy applications, and proven network resilience for real-time, mission-essential functions. Viasat’s latest developments aim to address these needs.

How Viasat’s new satellite answers the demand for flexible scale

The first development is the successful launch of the ViaSat-3 Flight 2 (F2) satellite. Once operational in its geostationary orbit, this single satellite is anticipated to double the overall bandwidth capacity of Viasat’s entire existing fleet.

Rather than just more bandwidth, the satellite provides smarter and more flexible capacity. The satellite’s dynamic beam forming capabilities enable it to concentrate its Ka-band capacity to areas where demand is highest.

This flexibility is the key strategic element for enterprises. It allows Viasat to, in theory, allocate bandwidth to a busy airport hub during peak travel times and then redirect that same capacity to follow maritime shipping lanes or serve a remote energy platform hours later. This adaptability is purpose-built for mobility, logistics, and defence customers whose bandwidth demands are not static.

Mark Dankberg, Chairman and CEO of Viasat, said: “Beyond an incredible capacity increase, ViaSat-3 F2’s dynamic beam forming capabilities will greatly benefit our customers by efficiently deploying bandwidth to the highest demand places, allowing us to scale performance and the number and density of users.

“These capabilities will continue to fuel our successful, multi-orbit service offerings, including service platforms such as Viasat Amara, NexusWave, and a resilient, hybrid SATCOM architecture for government.”

Following its launch from Cape Canaveral, Viasat’s new satellite is now moving to its final orbital position. After extensive testing, it is expected to enter service in early 2026.

Proving network resilience

While expanding capacity is a primary driver, COOs and CISOs are equally concerned with network integrity. For high-stakes operations, assured connectivity is non-negotiable.

This is where Viasat’s second announcement comes in. The company successfully executed the first flight test of its HaloNet launch telemetry data relay service, flying onboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket.

(Credit: Blue Origin)

The operational problem this solves is the risk of communication “blackouts” that occur when a launch vehicle flies beyond the line-of-sight of ground stations. Viasat’s solution used its global L-band satellite network to provide a persistent and real-time data connection to successfully transmit flight data back to the launch operations centre.

John Reeves, VP of Space and Mission Systems for Viasat Government, commented: “We are thrilled to successfully complete our first demonstration under NASA’s Communications Services Project and show how commercial technologies can help support launch telemetry data needs.”

By providing an assured data link for NASA – an agency actively sourcing commercial replacements for its own legacy satellite fleet – Viasat is validating the robustness of its infrastructure. For an enterprise, if the network is trusted to monitor a rocket launch in real-time, it builds confidence in its ability to handle other no-fail scenarios, from defence communications to remote asset control.

“We’re proud to be partnering with NASA on these near-Earth communications capabilities to help both government agencies and commercial operators benefit from the latest available solutions,” added Reeves.

“We’re excited to build on this success and move toward a second demonstration mission with Blue Origin anticipated for early next calendar year.”

These two satellite developments from Viasat should be viewed as two sides of the same coin. The enterprise satellite market is maturing beyond a simple price-per-megabit discussion. The new benchmark for tech leaders assessing providers is their demonstrated ability to deliver both flexible scale and proven resilience.

(Cover image credit: United Launch Alliance)

See also: ESA trial brings satellite links into the 5G enterprise network

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