Viasat Unifies Global Ka-Band Satellites to Deliver Next-Generation Government SATCOM
The move delivers seamless, multi-orbit connectivity that is fully interoperable with MILSATCOM Ka-band networks, enhancing performance, coverage, and resilience for government missions across air, land, and sea.
Viasat Inc., a global provider of satellite communications solutions, has announced a major evolution of its network capabilities for government and military customers. The company is unifying its Ka-band satellites, the Global Xpress satellite fleet, and selected partner satellites into a fully integrated global Ka-band SATCOM network. The move delivers seamless, multi-orbit connectivity that is fully interoperable with MILSATCOM Ka-band networks, enhancing performance, coverage, and resilience for government missions across air, land, and sea.
The upgraded network leverages an integrated waveform, enhanced gateways, and a common ground architecture to allow seamless roaming across multiple Ka-band satellite systems. Government users will be able to transition smoothly between Viasat satellites, Global Xpress Ka-band satellites, and other commercial or government Ka-band assets. This evolution also simplifies operations by enabling access through upgraded single-terminal solutions, reducing the need for multiple hardware systems.
Viasat’s unified Ka-band network offers faster connectivity and ubiquitous roaming, supporting data speeds of up to 200 Mbps with compact 45cm or equivalent antennas. The network features both electronically and mechanically steered beams, allowing dynamic bandwidth allocation and the delivery of dedicated, secure connectivity to mobile government platforms. It also incorporates the ultra-high-capacity ViaSat-3 satellite constellation, designed to move large amounts of bandwidth to areas of real-time demand.
The recently launched ViaSat-3 F2 satellite strengthens network resilience and coverage across the Americas, while the planned ViaSat-3 F3 satellite is expected to extend coverage over the Asia-Pacific region. Together, these assets enhance global reach and provide additional redundancy for critical government communications.
Designed for contested and complex operational environments, the network includes dedicated Mil-Ka access and advanced protections against jamming, interference, and denial attacks. As part of Viasat’s broader multi-orbit network roadmap, the integrated Ka-band capability supports national security missions with scalable, resilient, and secure connectivity.
With abundant bandwidth capacity and layered redundancy, Viasat’s government satcom services offer flexible, multi-mission support for military fleets. The unified network enables dedicated beams that provide sovereign control and predictable performance, helping government customers meet evolving mission requirements worldwide.
