The move will enable customer roaming between North America and Europe, and is said to be one of the first interconnection agreements between high-capacity satellites.
Both networks operate in the same Ka-band frequency, enabled by ViaSat’s Broadband System.
The combined network will offer fixed and mobile services to a range of industry verticals, including flight connectivity, maritime, emergency relief, oil and gas operations and government applications.
“This formalises another step towards covering the high-traffic areas of the world with the fastest, most affordable mobile broadband satellite connectivity,” said Mark Dankberg, ViaSat chairman and CEO. “Extending our longstanding relationship with Eutelsat enables us to provide the fastest in-flight Wifi available on both sides of the Atlantic.”
The agreement also includes provisions for future satellites and technologies, including ViaSat-2, which is scheduled for launch in 2016 and which will cover North America, Central America, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.
