ViaSat, Dassault Aviation sign broadband connectivity services and equipment agreement for Falcon aircraft

ViaSat Inc., a global broadband services and technology company, today announced it signed a multi-year agreement with Dassault Aviation, a leading aerospace company with a presence in over 90 countries across five continents, to deliver a bundled global Ku-band broadband services offering, inclusive of in-cabin network equipment and in-flight connectivity service. Installation of the system will begin mid-calendar year 2016 on Falcon 8X.

ViaSat is proud to announce it has been selected by Dassault Aviation to equip first Falcon 8X with the ViaSat Ku-band terminal to provide operators with superior access to the internet and corporate network. First aircraft delivered with the system will occur before the end of calendar year 2016. Dassault Aviation makes available the ViaSat Ku-band service on Falcon 8X aircraft by offering the ViaSat Mobile Terminal 1500 (VMT-1500-C) shipset, which includes a Ku-band antenna, modem and antenna control unit. The cabin network will use a Satcom Direct Router (SDR) provided by ViaSat. This end-to-end system has been optimized for mobile applications today, with the ability to grow with future bandwidth demands. First shipset installations are being done in Little Rock Arkansas. Dassault Falcon Services is working on the STC for the Falcon 7X, based on the certification plans done for the Falcon 8X.

"There is a strong complement between Dassault Aviation's Falcon brand, which is known for advanced technology and premier cabin amenities, and the ViaSat global connectivity system, which is recognized as an advanced broadband services platform delivering premier in-cabin connectivity experiences," said Ken Peterman, senior vice president and general manager, ViaSat. "By pairing our two organizations, we can deliver on a shared vision: making office-in-the-sky capabilities – with access to the real internet – a reality that will benefit Falcon operators well into the future."

Today, ViaSat delivers a powerful in-flight internet experience to the business aviation industry leveraging its global satellite network. The Company offers both Ku- and Ka-band service covering more than 90% of the world's most popular airline flight paths to ensure an optimal user experience over the most congested flight routes. Available to commercial airline passengers since 2013 and for business aviation in 2015, ViaSat's award winning Ka-band service leverages ViaSat's leadership in high-capacity Ka-band satellite technology. Since 2008, ViaSat has been providing business aviation the highest performing satellite connectivity service on its worldwide Ku-band network.