ViaSat Inc (VSAT)

The SpaceX IPO Put a Spotlight on Starlink -- and on the One Public Company Building a Rival Direct-to-Phone NetworkJune 27, 2026 8:08 AM
PR Newswire (US) Editorial Commentary — Commercial Space SeriesSpaceX's public listing cast Starlink Mobile as a future wireless challenger. AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) is the most prominent publicly traded company pursuing the same direct-to-device satellite-broadband market.Key TakeawaysThe SpaceX IPO prospectus framed Starlink Mobile as a direct-to-smartphone service intended to compete with terrestrial mobile networks — spotlighting a market that public investors cannot access through SpaceX alone.AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) is the most prominent listed company building a direct-to-device satellite-broadband network, connecting ordinary, unmodified smartphones from space.AST has reported securing over US$1.2 billion in aggregate contracted revenue commitments from partners, and is targeting 45 to 60 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026.Other listed satellite-connectivity names include Globalstar (NASDAQ: GSAT) and Viasat (NASDAQ: VSAT) — each distinct, and neither a proxy for the other.The IPO That Made Satellite-to-Phone a HeadlineVANCOUVER, BC, June 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Equity Insider Market Commentary, When Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) filed to go public on the Nasdaq under the proposed ticker SPCX, the prospectus did more than reveal the financials of the world's most valuable private company. It laid out, in detail, how SpaceX intends to turn its Starlink constellation into a wireless competitor — casting Starlink Mobile as a direct-to-smartphone service designed to perform "on par with terrestrial mobile networks," with next-generation satellites slated to expand the offering beyond messaging toward full broadband and IoT connectivity. Get our free Orbital Economy Signal Brief for plain-English intelligence on the commercial-space sector, delivered as it moves. That framing turned a once-niche idea — connecting an ordinary phone directly to a satellite, with no special hardware — into a front-page investment theme. But there is a catch for public investors: SpaceX's satellite-to-phone business is bundled inside an enormous company spanning launch, Starlink broadband, and an artificial-intelligence unit. For those seeking a focused, public-market way to play the direct-to-device race specifically, the most prominent name is not SpaceX at all. It is AST SpaceMobile.AST SpaceMobile: The Public Pure-Play on Phones-From-SpaceAST SpaceMobile (Nasdaq: ASTS), based in Midland, Texas, is building what it calls a space-based cellular broadband network designed to connect everyday, unmodified smartphones directly to its satellites — aiming to eliminate mobile "dead zones" worldwide. Where Starlink began as a fixed-broadband service using dedicated terminals, AST's entire thesis is the direct-to-device market that SpaceX's IPO filing has now thrust into the spotlight. That makes the two natural — if vastly differently sized — competitors in the same emerging category.The company has been building both its constellation and its commercial foundation. AST reported full-year 2025 revenue of about US$70.9 million, driven by mobile-network-operator partners and the U.S. government, and said it had secured over US$1.2 billion in aggregate contracted revenue commitments from partners — a figure that speaks to the scale of carrier interest. It has also reported completing the in-orbit unfolding of BlueBird 6, which it described as the largest commercial communications array ever deployed in low Earth orbit, and has laid out a launch cadence intended to reach 45 to 60 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026.The risk profile is equally clear, and worth stating plainly: AST is a capital-intensive, still-largely-pre-revenue business whose value depends on executing a demanding manufacturing-and-launch campaign on schedule. A successful deployment validates the model; a stumble in cadence or array deployment would do the opposite. This is a build-it-first business, and the build is far from finished.How AST and SpaceX Actually DifferIt would be a mistake to treat AST as a miniature Starlink. The two take different technical and commercial approaches: AST partners with terrestrial mobile-network operators to extend their existing networks from space, positioning itself as a complement that carriers integrate, rather than a stand-alone consumer ISP. SpaceX, by contrast, has the advantage of owning its own launch vehicles — it flies Starlink satellites on its own Falcon 9 and Starship rockets — plus enormous scale and a head start in subscribers. AST's counter is focus and carrier alignment: it is building specifically for the direct-to-device use case in partnership with the incumbents whose customers it would serve. Which model wins, or whether both coexist, is exactly the open question the SpaceX IPO has made unavoidable. Tracking how this sector is being repriced in real time? Join the free Orbital Economy Signal Brief to follow the shifts as they happen.The Wider Satellite-Connectivity FieldBeyond AST, a couple of listed satellite-connectivity companies help frame the landscape — each with a distinct model and risk profile, and neither a proxy for the other. Globalstar (Nasdaq: GSAT) provides mobile satellite services and wholesale capacity, reporting first-quarter 2026 revenue of about US$70.1 million, up 17% year-over-year, and has been a long-running infrastructure partner in the satellite-to-phone space. Viasat (Nasdaq: VSAT) anchors the broadband-and-connectivity end as a diversified satellite-communications operator serving aviation, government, and consumer markets. Together with AST, these names show that "satellite connectivity" spans several business models — wholesale capacity and diversified broadband — all being re-rated as the direct-to-device opportunity SpaceX highlighted draws fresh capital and attention. Each, however, will live or die on its own constellation, balance sheet, and execution.A Note on the Broader Space TradeOne smaller name investors scanning the sector may note is Starfighters Space, Inc. (NYSE American: FJET), mentioned here for context only and not as a recommendation. The company has publicly described operating what it calls the world's only commercial fleet of flight-ready Mach 2+ supersonic F-104 aircraft from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, and in May 2026 it announced a US$17.5 million strategic equity investment led by institutional investors, with proceeds earmarked to support operational expansion and continued advancement of its STARLAUNCH platform. These are the company's own announced figures; readers should verify them in its filings.The Bottom LineThe SpaceX IPO did more than reveal Starlink's economics — it confirmed that connecting ordinary phones directly to satellites is a market the most sophisticated player in space intends to pursue aggressively. For public investors, that validation lands not on SpaceX's sprawling franchise but on the focused names building in the same direction. AST SpaceMobile is the most prominent of them, with carrier commitments and an ambitious deployment plan — and the considerable execution risk that comes with building a constellation from scratch. The question the IPO sharpened is no longer whether satellite-to-phone is real, but who builds the winning network. The answer will come from orbit, on a schedule, over the next several years. To keep a closer eye on the launch, satellite, lunar, and space-data economy as it develops, sign up for the free Orbital Economy Signal Brief.SIGNAL OVER NOISESignal over noise. Space, satellite-connectivity, and telecom headlines move fast — and the crowd often moves first. Eagle Eye is a real-time investor signal-intelligence platform that surfaces sentiment shifts, news flow, and trending tickers as they happen, so you see the move forming instead of reading about it later. See it at eagle-eye.dev.CONTACTEquity Insider
info@equity-insider.comSOURCES[1] Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), Form S-1 registration statement and Starlink Mobile disclosures (proposed Nasdaq symbol SPCX), May–June 2026, sec.gov; contemporaneous news reporting.
[2] AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASTS), Q4 and full-year 2025 results and business update, March 2, 2026.
[3] Globalstar, Inc. (Nasdaq: GSAT), Q1 2026 financial results, May 7, 2026.
[4] Viasat, Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT), corporate disclosures, 2026.
[5] Starfighters Space, Inc. (NYSE American: FJET), company press releases ($17.5 million strategic investment; STARLAUNCH; Kennedy Space Center operations), 2026.DISCLAIMERIMPORTANT — PLEASE READ: This article is editorial commentary and was NOT paid for, requested, commissioned, reviewed, or approved by any of the companies named in it, nor by Creative Direct Marketing Group ("CDMG"). No company mentioned in this article paid for or had any involvement in its preparation or publication. The disclosures that follow are provided in the interest of full transparency regarding our broader business relationships, even though they do not apply to this specific article.Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This publication is neither an offer nor a recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. Equity Insider is owned and operated by Market IQ Media Group Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Ireland ("MIQL"). As part of its ongoing business, MIQL has been paid fees by CDMG for advertising and digital media for Starfighters Space, Inc. (NYSE American: FJET) in connection with separate, paid campaigns; those paid materials are distinct from this article, which is unpaid editorial. This relationship constitutes a potential conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our commentary regarding Starfighters Space, Inc., and readers are strongly encouraged not to use this publication as the basis for any investment decision. MIQL and its owner/operators do not own shares of Starfighters Space, Inc. or of any other company named in this article in connection with this piece, but reserve the right to buy and sell securities of any company mentioned at any time without further notice. While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our publication is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This publication contains forward-looking statements concerning the companies referenced and the commercial-space sector, including statements regarding the proposed initial public offering of Space Exploration Technologies Corp. ("SpaceX") and its reported terms, which are based on third-party reporting and SpaceX's own filings and remain subject to change until and unless finalized; product development, launch and mission timelines; contract awards and backlog; and broader market conditions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks and uncertainties — including execution, regulatory, financing, competitive and macroeconomic risks — that could cause actual results to differ materially, as detailed in each referenced company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. References to SpaceX are for thematic and contextual purposes only; SpaceX is a separate company with no affiliation to the publisher, and nothing herein is an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell, securities of SpaceX or any other company. Figures attributed to named companies are drawn from those companies' public disclosures. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made; the publisher undertakes no obligation to update or revise them except as required by applicable law. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-spacex-ipo-put-a-spotlight-on-starlink--and-on-the-one-public-company-building-a-rival-direct-to-phone-network-302812572.html Original: The SpaceX IPO Put a Spotlight on Starlink -- and on the One Public Company Building a Rival Direct-to-Phone Network

Space Stocks Rally After SpaceX Sets Record IPO Price at $135 Per ShareJune 12, 2026 6:23 AM
IH Market News SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX) confirmed on Thursday that it had priced its landmark initial public offering at $135 per share, raising $75 billion in what has become the largest IPO ever completed in the United States. The Elon Musk-led company sold 555.56 million shares, giving the rocket, satellite and spacecraft group an implied valuation of approximately $1.77 trillion based on 13.08 billion shares outstanding. Historic Valuation Places SpaceX Among Market Giants The valuation establishes a new record for an initial public offering and immediately places SpaceX among the largest publicly traded companies in America. When trading begins on Nasdaq on Friday, the company is expected to rank as the seventh-largest listed business in the United States by market capitalisation. The valuation could increase further if underwriters choose to exercise their option to sell additional shares, a decision that is typically made within 30 days of an IPO. At its debut valuation, SpaceX is worth more than several established corporate heavyweights, including JPMorgan Chase, Berkshire Hathaway, Eli Lilly, Meta Platforms and Musk’s electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla. The lofty valuation comes despite SpaceX reporting a loss last year and generating revenues that remain significantly below those of many other mega-cap companies. Sector Peers Gain Ahead of Market Debut Investor excitement surrounding the upcoming flotation lifted shares across the space and satellite sector in premarket trading. Satellite communications provider EchoStar (NASDAQ:SATS) rose more than 4%, while Viasat (NASDAQ:VSAT) gained 2.3%. AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS) advanced 5.8%, and Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB) climbed as much as 8% before the opening bell as traders positioned themselves ahead of SpaceX’s debut. The strong performance reflected broader optimism about the space industry and expectations that SpaceX’s market entrance could attract increased investor attention to the sector. IPO Smashes Previous Records The previous record for the largest IPO belonged to Saudi Aramco, which raised $25.6 billion during its 2019 market debut at a valuation of $1.71 trillion. Adjusted for inflation, Aramco’s offering generated approximately $33.2 billion and valued the company at around $2.21 trillion. Even so, SpaceX’s $75 billion fundraising effort comfortably surpasses all previous IPOs in terms of capital raised, establishing a new benchmark for public offerings. Starlink and Space Operations Drive Growth Story Founded in 2002, SpaceX says its mission is “to build the systems and technologies necessary to make life multiplanetary, to understand the true nature of the universe, and to extend the light of consciousness to the stars.” The company stated that its launch operations have been responsible for more than four-fifths of all mass sent into orbit over the past three years, highlighting its dominant position within the commercial space industry. In addition to its launch business, SpaceX operates the Starlink satellite internet network, which serves customers across 164 countries, territories and markets worldwide. Starlink currently generates the majority of the company’s revenue and has become a key pillar of its long-term growth strategy. Strong Retail and Institutional Demand Underpins Offering SpaceX took an unconventional approach to its public listing by allocating 30% of the offering to retail investors and determining the IPO price before conducting the traditional roadshow process typically used to market new share offerings. Demand proved exceptionally strong across both retail and institutional investors. According to Bloomberg News, retail demand exceeded $100 billion, while institutional appetite was also substantial. The Wall Street Journal reported that BlackRock alone submitted an order worth approximately $5 billion. The overwhelming interest highlights investor confidence in Musk’s vision and reinforces expectations that SpaceX’s stock market debut will be one of the most closely watched trading events in recent years. SpaceX IPO EchoStar stock price ViaSat stock price AST SpaceMobile stock price Rocket Lab stock price Want to stay up-to-date on the SpaceX IPO? Find the top asked questions from investors and follow their every move here: https://invest.investorshub.com/spacex-ipo-watch/ Original: Space Stocks Rally After SpaceX Sets Record IPO Price at $135 Per Share

SpaceX's Trillion-Dollar IPO Is Turning the Space Sector Into the Trade of 2026 -- Here Are Five Names Already Moving on ItMay 21, 2026 12:07 PM
PR Newswire (Canada) Issued on behalf of Starfighters Space, Inc.CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., May 21, 2026 /CNW/ -- Equity Insider News Commentary — The looming SpaceX IPO has done something that almost no other capital markets event in a decade has managed: it has made the space sector mainstream investible. A Yahoo Finance segment that ran yesterday with ETF.com president Dave Nadig laid out the case directly, walking through the ETFs and broader public space exposure that stand to benefit from what is shaping up to be the largest IPO in history. Multiple ETF issuers are already gearing up. [1] SpaceX confidentially filed its S-1 with the SEC on April 1, 2026, and its public registration is expected to land on EDGAR between May 18 and May 22. The targeted June Nasdaq listing aims to raise as much as US$75 billion at a US$1.75 trillion valuation. [2] That alone reshapes the comparable set for every publicly traded space name in the market today.The sector backdrop is more than just one IPO. NASA announced a new Moon Base initiative in March. The Trump administration's Golden Dome missile defense program is in full procurement. The Department of War has expanded its hypersonic test budget. Commercial space stations, lunar landers, and microgravity research platforms — work that until recently lived inside a small handful of government programs — are now being executed by publicly traded companies posting record backlogs. Against that wave, one NYSE American–listed operator at Cape Canaveral made a move yesterday that drops it directly into a federal procurement opening.A NASA RFI, a Falcon 50, and a Capability the U.S. Has Gone WithoutStarfighters Space, Inc. (NYSE American: FJET) — the operator of what its own filings describe as the world's fastest fleet of commercial supersonic aircraft — announced a signed Memorandum of Understanding with Mu-G Technologies, LLC and a joint response to a NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center Request for Information for Parabolic Flight Services. The RFI targets companies that can rebuild the country's commercial microgravity capability — a capability the U.S. has gone without since the last domestic operator exited the market. [3]Under the MOU, Starfighters will host Mu-G's Dassault Falcon 50 at the Midland International Air & Space Port in Texas, where the aircraft will be modified to conduct parabolic test flights and worked through FAA certification. Starfighters provides ground support, chase plane and data collection, expert pilot integration, and safety and regulatory alignment. [3]The combined offering covers four flight environments at one site: microgravity from the Falcon 50, reduced gravity and hyper-gravity from the same parabolic profiles, and the supersonic regime from Starfighters' F-104s. The NASA RFI specifically asks for "novel or non-traditional flight platforms." [3]Microgravity research is increasingly where real commercial work happens. Pharma and biotech companies use the absence of gravity-driven sedimentation to grow purer protein crystals and study drug mechanisms. Materials scientists use reduced gravity to study how alloys solidify without convection currents. Defense and aerospace engineers use parabolic profiles to test sensors, fluid systems, and components before committing to a launch. U.S. researchers who need that environment today have to look overseas or wait — exactly the gap NASA is asking industry to fill.Starfighters CEO Tim Franta and Mu-G founder Robert S. Ward have known each other for nearly thirty years through the Space Coast aerospace community. Franta took over as CEO in February 2026. [4] Starfighters already flies revenue missions for Lockheed Martin, Space Florida, and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. [5] On May 7, it added two senior Blue Origin engineers to lead STARLAUNCH operations. [6]Four Other Names Riding the Same WaveKarman Holdings Inc. (NYSE: KRMN) — A leader in critical next-generation system solutions for space, hypersonics, and missile defense. On May 12, Karman reported record Q1 2026 revenue of US$151.2 million, up 51.0% year-over-year, with record quarterly adjusted EBITDA of US$44.8 million (29.6% margin) and a record backlog of US$1.0 billion, up 61% year-over-year. The Space and Launch segment led growth at US$43.9 million, with the company introducing a new Maritime Defense Systems end market in the quarter. Management raised full-year 2026 guidance to US$720–US$735 million in revenue and US$208.5–US$219.5 million in adjusted EBITDA. [7][8]MDA Space Ltd. (NYSE: MDA) — A trusted mission partner to the global space industry, dual-listed on the NYSE and TSX. On May 7, MDA Space reported Q1 2026 revenue of CAD$464 million, up 32% year-over-year, with a backlog of CAD$3.7 billion providing visibility into 2026 and beyond. The company ended the quarter with a CAD$299 million net cash position and CAD$1.2 billion in total liquidity. In April, MDA launched MDA MIDNIGHT™, a space-control platform aimed at protecting critical orbital infrastructure, while in March it announced a Canadian Defence Investment Agency contract for three Ground-Based Optical observatories. CEO Mike Greenley cited a CAD$40 billion pipeline across commercial and government customers. [9]EchoStar Corporation (Nasdaq: SATS) — Holds an equity stake in SpaceX acquired through prior spectrum transactions, now widely flagged as one of the most direct public proxies for the SpaceX IPO repricing thesis. On May 11, EchoStar reported Q1 2026 revenue of US$3.67 billion and confirmed that the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and Space Bureau approved its approximately US$40 billion sale of wireless spectrum to AT&T and SpaceX, with EchoStar to continue operating Boost Mobile via an MVNO partnership. [10][11] On May 13, New Street Research initiated coverage with a Buy rating and a US$161 price target, calling EchoStar "the SpaceX play, for now." [12]Viasat, Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT) — A global satellite communications provider with annual revenue of approximately US$4.56 billion. Viasat is one of five companies awarded initial contracts under the U.S. Space Force's Protected Tactical SATCOM-Global (PTS-G) program, which carries a ceiling of US$4 billion in IDIQ value across awardees for resilient, anti-jam tactical communications. [13] On May 7, Viasat announced a cooperation agreement with activist investor Carronade Capital Management, adding two new independent directors to the Board's Strategic Review Committee. On May 13, New Street Research initiated coverage with a Buy rating and a US$100 price target, citing Viasat's defense communications position as a SpaceX-IPO-adjacent beneficiary. [12]The Bottom LineThe Yahoo Finance segment captured what the market has already started pricing: when the anchor of the entire ecosystem is going public at a US$1.75 trillion valuation, every publicly traded company that does real work in the same lane gets re-rated. Starfighters Space, Inc. (NYSE American: FJET) is one of the few publicly traded operators that owns a flying fleet of supersonic aircraft today, has revenue from blue-chip aerospace customers, and is now in the running for a NASA-defined commercial microgravity capability that does not currently exist domestically. The Mu-G MOU is the next concrete step. As always, investors should do their own research and consult a qualified financial advisor before making any decision.For more information on Starfighters Space, Inc., visit: https://equity-insider.com/fjet-landingContact:
Equity Insider
info @therooster-2873Sources:[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/video/spacex-ipo-set-bolster-space-180000761.html
[2] https://www.ibtimes.com/spacex-files-largest-ipo-ever-while-absorbing-494-billion-loss-its-xai-merger-3802915
[3] https://ir.starfightersspace.com/news-events/press-releases
[4] https://www.stocktitan.net/sec-filings/FJET/8-k-starfighters-space-inc-reports-material-event-3234f73ec472.html
[5] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/starfighters-space-demonstrates-commercial-supersonic-130000515.html
[6] https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/starfighters-space-adds-blue-origin-130000983.html
[7] https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0002040127/000119312526219495/krmn-ex99_1.htm
[8] https://www.stocktitan.net/sec-filings/KRMN/8-k-karman-holdings-inc-reports-material-event-0e4e3b7a2b1a.html
[9] https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001857047/000110465926056789/tm2613608d3_ex99-1.htm
[10] https://stockanalysis.com/stocks/sats/
[11] https://blockonomi.com/echostar-sats-stock-surges-on-spacex-ipo-speculation-and-40b-fcc-spectrum-deal/
[12] https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/spacex-ripple-effect-rklb-sats-vsat-top-space-stock-bets/cZX1hH7Re1b
[13] https://www.investing.com/news/company-news/viasat-secures-contract-for-us-space-force-satellite-program-93CH-4277193DISCLAIMER / DISCLOSURE:Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a digital media distribution and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.Equity Insider is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market IQ Media Group, Inc. ("MIQ"). This article is being distributed by USA News Group on behalf of MIQ. MIQ has been paid a fee for Starfighters Space, Inc. advertising and digital media from Creative Direct Marketing Group ("CDMG"). There may be 3rd parties who may have shares of Starfighters Space, Inc. and may liquidate their shares which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this article or email as the basis for any investment decision. The owner/operator of MIQ currently owns shares of Starfighters Space, Inc. that were purchased in the open market and reserves the right to buy and sell, and will buy and sell shares of Starfighters Space, Inc. at any time without any further notice commencing immediately and ongoing. We also expect further compensation as an ongoing digital media effort to increase visibility for the company; no further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as notice that all material disseminated by MIQ has been reviewed and approved on behalf of Starfighters Space, Inc. by CDMG; this is a digital media distribution.While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our article is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:This publication contains forward-looking information which is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements in this publication include that demand for U.S. aerodynamic and hypersonic test infrastructure will continue to accelerate; that Starfighters Space, Inc.'s F-104 platform will provide testing capabilities at the cadence and conditions described; that the Company's expansion to Midland, Texas will proceed as planned; that the Company will retain and grow its existing customer base; that comparable companies will perform as expected. The forward-looking information contained herein is provided for the purpose of assisting the reader to understand the Company's business, however such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition include changing governmental laws and policies; the Company's ability to obtain and retain necessary licensing; political and competitive risks; failure of forecasts and assumptions to come to fruition; and other unforeseen circumstances. The publisher of this article does not take responsibility for the accuracy of any statements made by the issuing company or its representatives. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and the publisher undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law.Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2840019/5982425/Equity_Insider_Logo.jpg  View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spacexs-trillion-dollar-ipo-is-turning-the-space-sector-into-the-trade-of-2026--here-are-five-names-already-moving-on-it-302778910.htmlSOURCE Equity Insider Original: SpaceX's Trillion-Dollar IPO Is Turning the Space Sector Into the Trade of 2026 -- Here Are Five Names Already Moving on It

The setup is improving, but this still looks more like an execution turnaround than a clean momentum story. The latest quarterly update helps, but investors probably still want a few more quarters of proof.

Viasat is a major satellite-communications company, but the stock trades as if its network expansion, satellite launches, and mobility-broadband strategy will unfold smoothly. The fundamentals suggest a far more fragile setup. With execution risk, high leverage, satellite failures, and intensifying competition from Starlink and other LEO constellations, $VSAT carries meaningful downside risk if expectations cool.

1. Satellite Failure Was a Major Blow to Capacity and Growth
Viasat suffered a high-profile failure of its ViaSat-3 Americas satellite, which severely reduced expected capacity. This created:

lost revenue opportunities

impaired long-term growth plans

reduced competitiveness in mobility markets

higher replacement and insurance costs

The market has partially priced this in, but not fully. If future launches slip or underperform, the downside widens.

2. Heavy Debt Load Creates Financial Fragility
Viasat has taken on significant debt to fund:

satellite construction

acquisitions

network expansion

High leverage is dangerous in a capital-intensive industry. Rising interest rates make refinancing more expensive, and any operational setback becomes magnified.

3. Starlink Is a Brutal Competitor
SpaceX’s Starlink has reshaped the satellite-internet landscape. It offers:

lower latency

global coverage

rapid deployment

aggressive pricing

Viasat’s GEO-satellite architecture cannot match LEO performance. The competitive gap is widening, not shrinking.

4. Integration Risk From the Inmarsat Acquisition
Viasat’s acquisition of Inmarsat was intended to strengthen its mobility and aviation footprint, but it also introduced:

integration complexity

overlapping assets

regulatory scrutiny

cultural and operational friction

Large telecom mergers rarely deliver immediate value, and Viasat is still digesting this one.

5. Capital Expenditure Requirements Remain Enormous
Satellite businesses require:

billions in upfront investment

long lead times

high launch risk

expensive maintenance

Viasat must continue spending heavily just to stay competitive. With debt already high, this creates long-term financial strain.

6. Revenue Growth Is Inconsistent and Vulnerable
Viasat’s revenue depends on:

aviation connectivity

government contracts

consumer broadband

enterprise mobility

Each segment faces its own risks, and none offer smooth, predictable growth. Any slowdown in aviation or government spending hits Viasat disproportionately hard.

7. Overbought Technicals After a Sharp Rally
The stock recently surged on sentiment rather than fundamentals. When a heavily leveraged, execution-dependent company rallies this fast, it becomes vulnerable to sharp reversals.

Crowded rebounds unwind quickly.

Bottom Line
Viasat is a major satellite-communications player, but the stock is priced as if satellite failures are behind it, integration will be smooth, and competition from Starlink won’t intensify. With high leverage, execution risk, massive capex needs, and a structurally weaker competitive position, $VSAT carries meaningful downside risk if expectations reset.

Starlink is killing both Viasat and HughesNet. They cannot compare to the speed and low latency of Starlink's low earth orbit satellites. Viasat says latency does not matter. They are lying. The proof is in the use.

Geez, Viasat is losing a quarter billion $ per quarter. Revenue has stagnated. The company has been diluting shareholders and at the same time tangible book value is going to zero.

Viasat has been involved in several lawsuits, including patent infringement cases against companies like Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) and Acacia Communications, as well as a recent lawsuit against the US Space Development Agency (SDA) regarding a satellite contract. $VSAT

Wasserman Schultz big investment in this, like playing poker with your opponents cards facing you. Gosh are they all smart!

The Democrats are cheating again they are buying this stock so keep an eye on it

Debbie Wasserman just bought this stock and she sits on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on MilitaryConstruction. Let's see what happens. 

This is how good the service is. 1 star rating
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/internet/viasat.html

The service sucks and the bottom line will show it soon.
Google complaints on this mess of a satellite service.
Wont let folks close accounts etc,etc.
They just told me they dont have any technicians to service my dish.
WTF~~ Cant stream shit, it buffers.
No service technicians~~ But they charge for up keep and wont do it !!
GOOGLE IT

Very active board here

$VSAT bears are running Viasat Inc Nasdaq Vsat Short Squeeze

The thing I learned from the net neutrality debate is that a lot of people have only one available broadband provider, which seems like a problem. Is there a big opportunity for Viasat?

Insider Trading Activity ViaSat Inc. (NASDAQ:VSAT) – VP Sold 500 shares of Stock http://marketexclusive.com/insider-trading-activity-viasat-inc-nasdaqvsat-vp-sold-500-shares-of-stock-3/52446/?icd1

Macquarie downgraded VSAT to underperform. Fundamentals support rating change:

Valuation Analysis

Going to 70's after earnings

Quiet forum for this runner!!!

Add ViaSat Inc. to the people, places and things that have set Guinness World Records.

todays San Diego Business Journal

http://sdbj.com/news/2013/mar/08/viasat-inc-sets-guinness-world-record/

~ $VSAT ~ Earnings posted, pending or coming soon! In Charts and Links Below!

~ $VSAT ~ Earnings expected on Monday *
This Week In Earnings: Earnings are coming or are already posted! This is what the charts look like! If you play the earnings these posts can be very helpful to you!
Want more like this? Search Keyword: MACMONEY >>> http://tinyurl.com/MACMONEY <<<
One or more of many earnings sites has alerted this security has or will be posting earnings on or around the day of this message.








http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=VSAT&p=D&b=3&g=0&id=p88783918276&a=237480049




http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=VSAT&p=W&b=3&g=0&id=p54550695994



~ Barchart: http://barchart.com/quotes/stocks/VSAT?
~ OTC Markets: http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/VSAT/company-info
~ Google Finance: http://www.google.com/finance?q=VSAT
~ Google Fin Options: hhttp://www.google.com/finance/option_chain?q=VSAT#
~ Yahoo! Finance ~ Stats: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ks?s=VSAT+Key+Statistics
~ Yahoo! Finance ~ Profile: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=VSAT
Finviz: http://finviz.com/quote.ashx?t=VSAT
~ BusyStock: http://busystock.com/i.php?s=VSAT&v=2
~ CandlestickChart: http://www.candlestickchart.com/cgi/chart.cgi?symbol=VSAT&exchange=US
~ Investorshub Trades: http://ih.advfn.com/p.php?pid=trades&symbol=VSAT
~ Investorshub Board Search: http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/getboards.aspx?searchstr=VSAT
~ Investorshub PostStream Search: http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/poststream.aspx?ticker=VSAT
~ Investorshub Goodies Search: http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/msgsearchbyboard.aspx?boardID=18582&srchyr=2011&SearchStr=VSAT
~ Investorshub Message Search: http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/msgsearch.aspx?SearchStr=VSAT
~ MarketWatch: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/VSAT/profile
~ E-Zone Chart: http://www.windchart.com/ezone/signals/?symbol=VSAT
~ 5-Min Wind: http://www.windchart.com/stockta/analysis?symbol=VSAT
~ 10-Min Wind: http://www.windchart.com/stockta/analysis?symbol=VSAT&size=l&frequency=10&color=g
~ 30-Min Wind: http://www.windchart.com/stockta/analysis?symbol=VSAT&size=l&frequency=30&color=g
~ 60-Min Wind: http://www.windchart.com/stockta/analysis?symbol=VSAT&size=l&frequency=60&color=g


http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/post_prvt.aspx?user=251916

*If the earnings date is in error please ignore error. I do my best.

ViaSat Announces Early Termination of HSR Waiting Period in Connection with Proposed Acquisition of WildBlue Communications


Press Release
Source: ViaSat Inc.
On 8:00 am EDT, Friday October 30, 2009
Buzz up! 0 Print.Companies:Viasat Inc.
CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT - News), a producer of innovative satellite and other wireless communication systems, announced today that ViaSat and WildBlue Communications Inc. have been granted early termination by the Federal Trade Commission and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice of the mandatory waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (“HSR”), in connection with the previously announced ViaSat acquisition of WildBlue.

Related Quotes
Symbol Price Change
VSAT 29.43 0.00


{"s" : "vsat","k" : "c10,l10,p20,t10","o" : "","j" : ""} Completion of the proposed acquisition remains subject to receipt of other regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of the other closing conditions set forth in the merger agreement. The parties continue to expect the transaction to close in the fourth quarter of ViaSat’s 2010 fiscal year, which ends April 2, 2010.

About ViaSat (www.viasat.com)

ViaSat produces innovative satellite and other digital communication products that enable fast, secure, and efficient communications to any location. The company provides networking products and managed network services for enterprise IP applications; is a key supplier of network-centric military communications and encryption technologies and products to the U.S. government; and is the primary technology partner for gateway and customer-premises equipment for consumer and mobile satellite broadband services. ViaSat also offers design capabilities and a number of complementary products including monolithic microwave integrated circuits and modules, DVB-S2 satellite communication components, video data link systems, data acceleration and compression, and mobile satellite antenna systems. ViaSat is based in Carlsbad, CA, has major locations in Duluth, GA, and Germantown, MD (Comsat Laboratories division), and additional field offices and service centers worldwide.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements that refer to the timing and expected closing of the proposed acquisition of WildBlue by ViaSat. Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: the ability of the parties to consummate the proposed acquisition on the terms described in this release, or at all; the satisfaction of the various closing conditions to the proposed acquisition; the ability to realize anticipated benefits of the proposed acquisition; and other factors affecting the communications industry generally. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in ViaSat SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including ViaSat’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. ViaSat undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.

WildBlue is a registered trademark of WildBlue Communications Inc.

Comsat Labs and Comsat Laboratories are trade names of ViaSat, Inc. Neither Comsat Labs nor Comsat Laboratories is affiliated with COMSAT Corporation. “Comsat” is a registered trademark of COMSAT Corporation.


Contact:
Media RelationsBrainerd CommunicatorsJoe LoBello / Scott Cianciulli 212.986.6667 212.986.6667lobello@braincomm.comcianciulli@braincomm.comorInvestor RelationsViaSat Inc. 760-476-2633

ViaSat Announces Proposed Private Placement of $250 Million in Senior Notes


Press Release
Source: ViaSat Inc.
On 4:50 pm EDT, Tuesday October 13, 2009
Buzz up! 0 Print.Companies:ViaSat Inc.
CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq:VSAT - News) today announced that it intends to commence an offering of $250 million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2016, subject to market and other conditions. The notes will be offered and sold to qualified institutional buyers in the United States pursuant to Rule 144A and outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Related Quotes
Symbol Price Change
VSAT 30.00 0.00


{"s" : "vsat","k" : "c10,l10,p20,t10","o" : "","j" : ""} The notes will bear interest at a rate to be determined by negotiations between ViaSat and the initial purchasers, and will be guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by certain of ViaSat’s existing and future subsidiaries.

If ViaSat’s previously announced acquisition of WildBlue Holding, Inc. is consummated, the net proceeds from the offering will be used to fund a portion of the purchase price of such acquisition. If the acquisition of WildBlue is not consummated, ViaSat intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include financing costs related to the purchase, launch and operation of its ViaSat-1 satellite, other potential acquisitions, working capital or capital expenditures.

The senior unsecured notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States without registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

This press release is neither an offer to sell nor the solicitation of an offer to buy the notes or any other securities, and no offer, solicitation or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which, or to any persons to whom, such an offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful. Any offers of the notes will be made only by means of an offering memorandum. This press release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act.


Contact:
Media RelationsBrainerd CommunicatorsJoe LoBello / Scott Cianciulli 212-986-6667 212-986-6667lobello@braincomm.comcianciulli@braincomm.comorInvestor RelationsViaSat Inc. 760-476-2633

ViaSat buys WildBlue Communications for USD568m

Oct 02, 2009 (M2 EQUITYBITES via COMTEX) -- ViaSat (NASDAQ:VSAT), a US wireless communication system provider, reported on Thursday that it is finalising a deal to buy WildBlue Communications, a privately held satellite broadband service company.
The purchase, which is subject to customary regulatory and other conditions, is said to be worth USD568m (EUR389.5m) in cash and stock and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of ViaSat's fiscal 2009/10, ending on 2 April.




(C)2009 M2 COMMUNICATIONS http://www.m2.com

ViaSat intends to finance the cash portion of the transaction from a combination of WildBlue and ViaSat available cash on hand, and by working with certain of its lenders and others to structure financing which is expected to be implemented prior to close. A ViaSat has arranged with WildBlue current creditors a USD350m second lien term loan with a four year maturity, following closing. This loan can be used, at ViaSat's sole election, in whole or in part, in the event third-party debt financing is not raised on satisfactory terms prior to closing.

The number of ViaSat common shares to be issued at closing will be determined based on the ten-day volume weighted average closing price (VWAP) of ViaSat shares shortly prior to closing, subject to a collar mechanism. Accordingly, ViaSat will issue at closing not over approximately 5.685 million shares or not less than approximately 4.262 million shares. In the event the VWAP is equal to USD25.73, ViaSat will issue approximately 4.858 million shares.

ViaSat plans to acquire WildBlue Communications for USD568m

Oct 02, 2009 (M2 EQUITYBITES via COMTEX) -- Provider of satellite and digital communication products ViaSat Inc (Nasdaq: VSAT) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire WildBlue Communications Inc, a Ka-band satellite broadband service provider, in a cash and stock transaction valued at USD568m.
The purchase price is approximately USD500m taking into account WildBlue's expected amount of cash on hand today.

WildBlue generated revenues of approximately USD209m, adjusted EBITDA of USD76m and USD52m of unlevered free cash flow for the trailing twelve month period ended 30 June 2009.

The consideration to be delivered at closing of the transaction to the WildBlue shareholders and creditors will consist of USD443m cash and USD125m million of newly issued ViaSat common stock.

ViaSat said that the free cash flow generated by WildBlue is expected to meaningfully exceed the transaction financing costs and, as a result, WildBlue cash flow is expected to become a source of funds to complete ViaSat-1 and accelerate network build-out.

The company will retain WildBlue cash on hand at closing, the amount of which is expected to change modestly between now and closing as a result of anticipated free cash flow in WildBlue's business and certain customary closing adjustments.

Also, ViaSat's assessment of the fair value of the net assets acquired as of the estimated transaction close date is expected to approximate the purchase price, resulting in no additional goodwill on the ViaSat balance sheet.

ViaSat intends to finance the cash portion of the transaction from a combination of WildBlue and ViaSat available cash on hand, and by working with certain of its lenders and others to structure financing which is expected to be implemented prior to close. A ViaSat has arranged with WildBlue current creditors a USD350m second lien term loan with a four year maturity, following closing. This loan can be used, at ViaSat's sole election, in whole or in part, in the event third-party debt financing is not raised on satisfactory terms prior to closing.

The number of ViaSat common shares to be issued at closing will be determined based on the ten-day volume weighted average closing price (VWAP) of ViaSat shares shortly prior to closing, subject to a collar mechanism. Accordingly, ViaSat will issue at closing not over approximately 5.685 million shares or not less than approximately 4.262 million shares. In the event the VWAP is equal to USD25.73, ViaSat will issue approximately 4.858 million shares.

ViaSat has the right to substitute additional cash for some or all of the ViaSat common shares to be issued at closing.

This capital-efficient transaction is expected to be accretive to ViaSat's Non-GAAP EPS immediately after closing.

In addition to accelerating the growth of WildBlue's consumer satellite broadband business, the transaction is also expected to promote organic growth opportunities for other ViaSat commercial and defence businesses.

The transaction, which is not subject to a vote of ViaSat's shareholders, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of ViaSat's 2010 fiscal year, ending 2 April 2010.

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Latham & Watkins LLP acted as lead financial and legal advisor, respectively, to ViaSat. Morgan Stanley and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom acted as financial and legal advisor, respectively, to WildBlue.




(C)2009 M2 COMMUNICATIONS http://www.m2.com

great day!!!

VSAT Chart:

http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=vsat

Contact Information
ViaSat, Inc.
6155 El Camino Real
Carlsbad, CA 92009

http://www.viasat.com

Phone: (760) 476-2200

Share Structure:

Estimated Market Cap: $823,770,071 as of Sep 30, 2009
Outstanding Shares: 30,992,102 as of Feb 6, 2009
Number of Share Holders of Record: 899 as of May 27, 2008

Digital Communication Products for Commercial and Government Markets

ViaSat produces innovative satellite and other digital communication products that enable fast, secure, and efficient communications to any location. We bring today’s new communication applications to people out of reach of terrestrial networks, in both the commercial and government sectors, with a variety of networking products:

Satellite networks for fixed-site and mobile communicationsSatellite antenna systems
Wireless datalinks and terminals for combat situational awareness
Information security for military networking
Mobile IP networking for soldiers
Communication microprocessor chipsets
Application and communication acceleration
Satellite network system design
Communication simulation and training systems.
Recognized for Growth and Stability
ViaSat is well known as a successful, innovative, high-growth company:

Three-time INC. 500 as a private company
Hannover Fairs ISCe2004 Satellite Industry Award for Innovation and Technology
CEO Mark Dankberg Via Satellite “2003 Satellite Executive of the Year”

BusinessWeek "100 Best Small Corporations"Forbes "200 Best Small Companies in America”
Red Herring “100 Top Small Caps”
Business 2.0 “100 Fastest Growing Tech Companies”
CEO Mark Dankberg American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) "2008 Aerospace International Communications Award"
Washington Technology "Top 100 Federal Prime Contractors"
DefenseNews "Top 100 Defense Contractors"
DefenseNews "Fast Track 50"
Space News "Top 50 Space Companies"
Industry recognition for ViaSat's corporate success and industry leadership

►See What We Do at ViaSat - an Interactive Graphic
►Watch our Communications "To The Edge" Overview Video
►Read Recent Articles About ViaSat


Surpassing 1,900 Employees and $628 Million in Sales
The company employs over 1,900 professional and support personnel. The largest department by far is engineering, with many holding graduate degrees in electrical engineering or computer science. Annual revenues hit a record $628 million during the most recently completed fiscal year (ended April 3, 2009).

History
ViaSat is part of the well-known Linkabit Corporation “family-tree” that spawned hundreds of San Diego area telecom startups, including Qualcomm, General Instruments, and Titan. Founded in 1986 by three former M/A-Com Linkabit employees, ViaSat is publicly traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol VSAT. Go to the History, Timeline or Industry Innovation & Firsts pages for more details.



To find out more about ViaSat, use the links on this page to explore our Web site.

ViaSat to Acquire WildBlue Communications
Integrates One of the USA’s Fastest Growing Broadband ISPs with the ViaSat-1 Satellite Venture and Positions WildBlue® Satellite Broadband for Accelerated Growth and Expansion

Capital-Efficient Transaction Expected to Be Accretive to ViaSat Non-GAAP EPS Immediately after Close



Press Release
Source: ViaSat Inc.
On Thursday October 1, 2009, 7:00 am EDT
Buzz up! 0 Print.Companies:ViaSat Inc.
CARLSBAD, Calif. & GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT - News), a producer of innovative satellite and other wireless communication systems, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held WildBlue Communications Inc., the premier Ka-band satellite broadband service provider, in a cash and stock transaction valued at $568 million. The combination sets the stage for accelerated growth and expansion of the WildBlue broadband service using ViaSat next generation network technology, featuring the high-capacity ViaSat-1 satellite scheduled to launch in early 2011.

Related Quotes
Symbol Price Change
VSAT 26.58 0.00


{"s" : "vsat","k" : "c10,l10,p20,t10","o" : "","j" : ""} “WildBlue and ViaSat have been close partners for nearly a decade and today’s announcement is the logical next step,” said Mark Dankberg, chairman and CEO of ViaSat. “By integrating ViaSat-1 and its ground network technology into the WildBlue operational and distribution platform, we believe we can meaningfully reduce our operational execution risks. Joining forces with ViaSat provides fast and efficient access to next-generation capacity for the WildBlue business and its subscribers. This synergy, coupled with the improved free cash flow profile WildBlue has attained in the last year, has enabled us to structure what we believe is a highly capital efficient transaction that offers immediate financial benefits to ViaSat. In our view, it’s exceptional to be able to make an acquisition with so many strategic benefits under such favorable financial terms.”

In acquiring WildBlue, ViaSat gains one of the most successful and fastest growing wholesale and retail broadband service providers in the United States. In less than five years, WildBlue has become one of the top twenty broadband U.S. ISPs with over 400,000 customers (as measured by total subscribers according to data compiled by Leitchman Research and ISP Planet). The WildBlue high-speed, two-way Internet service for residential and small business customers, powered exclusively by the ViaSat SurfBeam® networking system, provides fast, reliable connections regardless of the customer’s location. WildBlue pioneered the use of “unprocessed” Ka-band spot beam technology to increase capacity and lower bandwidth costs, portending the value potential for the technology innovations ViaSat-1 will make possible.

“Our new satellite,” Dankberg continues, “will have nearly all of its capacity aimed at those areas where WildBlue growth is constrained by lack of cost-effective bandwidth. The planned launch of ViaSat-1 in early 2011 is expected to multiply WildBlue total network capacity by more than tenfold, and by a factor of over 20 in those areas with the highest demand at a fraction of its current bandwidth costs. The increased bandwidth coupled with next generation ViaSat network technology is expected to enable WildBlue to increase upstream and downstream user speeds by factors of 3 to 5 times in those high-demand areas at current subscription prices, substantially raising the value to consumers.”

David Leonard, CEO of WildBlue, commented, “Over the past several years, we focused on acquiring and retaining customers, scaling our business and generating cash flow. The combination with ViaSat sets the stage both strategically and financially for the next phase of growth at WildBlue. We believe ViaSat, through its success with WildBlue in the Unites States, Barrett XPlornet® in Canada, and Eutelsat ToowaySM in Europe, has achieved the economies of scale needed to make satellite broadband affordable and competitive. With the addition of ViaSat-1 capacity to our network, we believe we can grow our subscriber base to become a top ten broadband ISP in the U.S. and expand further domestically and internationally.”

In addition to accelerating the growth of WildBlue’s consumer satellite broadband business, the transaction also promotes organic growth opportunities for other ViaSat commercial and defense businesses.

“WildBlue’s satellites accelerate our entrance into new Ka-band broadband applications by over a year. We have been making steady progress pursuing defense and mobile broadband markets in the U.S. and globally,” continued Dankberg. “We are very excited about integrating the WildBlue team into all of our global broadband technology and service initiatives.”

A Combination Rooted in Integration

Since announcing plans to build ViaSat-1 in early 2008, ViaSat has been in discussions with several potential strategic and financial partners.

“WildBlue is in a unique position and was always our first choice as a partner,” said Dankberg. “We have worked together for a decade creating the Ka-band broadband market. We know and complement each other extremely well – creating an integrated technology and services company. The key was structuring a financially attractive transaction that fairly apportions value for all the constituencies; preserves the resources and relationships that are the source of technical, operational and market advantages; and has clear, consistent purpose and governance. We believe we have done that today,” said Dankberg.

Liberty Media to Appoint Representative to ViaSat Board

At closing, WildBlue shareholders are expected to have the right to nominate one representative to the ViaSat board of directors and have agreed to allow Liberty Media, who is expected to become a significant shareholder of ViaSat as part of this transaction, to select the representative.

“Our longstanding investment in WildBlue reflects our keen interest in new broadband access and media delivery networks of all types,” said Mark Carleton of Liberty Media, who also is chairman of WildBlue. “In just a few years, WildBlue established a demand for its service and rapidly grew to over 400,000 subscribers. We believe that combining the service and technology companies, expanding the market applications, and adding the timely quantum leap in network capacity expected by the ViaSat-1 satellite, establishes an even more competitive platform for further growth and value creation for shareholders.”

In addition, Intelsat, Tennenbaum Capital Partners, the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative, and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers are also expected to become ViaSat shareholders as a result of the transaction.

Transaction Terms and Highlights

The purchase price is approximately $568 million, or approximately $500 million taking into account WildBlue’s expected amount of cash on hand today. Key factors in the transaction structure include:


•Free cash flow generated by WildBlue is expected to meaningfully exceed the transaction financing costs and, accordingly, WildBlue cash flow is expected to become a source of funds to complete ViaSat-1 and accelerate network build-out.
•For the trailing twelve month period ended June 30, 2009, WildBlue generated revenues of approximately $209 million, adjusted EBITDA of $76 million and $52 million of unlevered free cash flow.
•ViaSat to retain WildBlue cash on hand at closing, the amount of which is expected to change modestly between now and closing due to anticipated free cash flow in WildBlue’s business and certain customary closing adjustments
•ViaSat assessment of the fair value of the net assets acquired as of the estimated transaction close date is expected to approximate the purchase price – resulting in no additional goodwill on the ViaSat balance sheet.

Key terms of the transaction include:


•It is anticipated that the consideration to be delivered at closing to the WildBlue shareholders and creditors will consist of $443 million of cash and $125 million of newly issued ViaSat common stock.
•ViaSat intends to finance the cash portion of the transaction from a combination of WildBlue and ViaSat available cash on hand, and by working with certain of our lenders and others (i.e., JP Morgan, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Union Bank) to structure financing which is expected to be implemented prior to close.
•ViaSat has arranged with WildBlue current creditors a $350 million second lien term loan with a four year maturity (following closing). This loan can be used, at ViaSat’s sole election, in whole or in part, in the event third-party debt financing is not raised on satisfactory terms prior to closing.
•The number of ViaSat common shares to be issued at closing will be determined based on the ten-day volume weighted average closing price (“VWAP”) of ViaSat shares shortly prior to closing, subject to a collar mechanism; accordingly, ViaSat will issue at closing not more than approximately 5.685 million shares or not less than approximately 4.262 million shares. In the event the VWAP is equal to $25.73 (i.e., the midpoint of the collar), ViaSat will issue approximately 4.858 million shares.
•ViaSat has the right to substitute additional cash for some or all of the ViaSat common shares to be issued at closing.

Closing

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory and other conditions and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of ViaSat’s 2010 fiscal year, which ends April 2, 2010. The transaction is not subject to a vote of the ViaSat shareholders.

Advisors

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Latham & Watkins LLP acted as lead financial and legal advisor, respectively, to ViaSat. Morgan Stanley and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom acted as financial and legal advisor, respectively, to WildBlue.

Conference Call

ViaSat will host a conference call on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss this acquisition. The dial-in number is (888) 378-4350 (888) 378-4350 (888) 378-4350 (888) 378-4350 in the U.S. and (719) 457-2705 (719) 457-2705 (719) 457-2705 (719) 457-2705 internationally. Listeners can also access the conference call webcast and other material information discussed on the conference call on the Investor Relations section of our website at investors.viasat.com. The call will be archived and available on that site for approximately one month immediately following the conference call.

A replay of the conference call will be available from 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, October 1, 2009 through midnight Sunday, October 4, 2009 by dialing (888) 203-1112 (888) 203-1112 (888) 203-1112 (888) 203-1112 for U.S. callers and (719) 457-0820 (719) 457-0820 (719) 457-0820 (719) 457-0820 for international callers, and entering the passcode 2147932.

About ViaSat (www.viasat.com)

ViaSat produces innovative satellite and other digital communication products that enable fast, secure, and efficient communications to any location. The company provides networking products and managed network services for enterprise IP applications; is a key supplier of network-centric military communications and encryption technologies and products to the U.S. government; and is the primary technology partner for gateway and customer-premises equipment for consumer and mobile satellite broadband services. ViaSat also offers design capabilities and a number of complementary products including monolithic microwave integrated circuits and modules, DVB-S2 satellite communication components, video data link systems, data acceleration and compression, and mobile satellite antenna systems. ViaSat is based in Carlsbad, CA, has major locations in Duluth, GA, and Germantown, MD (Comsat Laboratories division), and additional field offices and service centers worldwide.

About WildBlue (www.wildblue.com)

WildBlue Communications, Inc. was established to provide broadband access to consumers and small offices in areas unserved and underserved by terrestrial broadband internet services. WildBlue high-speed satellite broadband service is easy to use, reliable, always on, and significantly faster than standard dial-up service. It opens up a window to a world of rich content that is largely unavailable through dial-up service and is accessible in areas traditionally underserved by cable modem or DSL service. Service is available in the contiguous United States.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” variations of such words and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements include, among others, statements that refer to WildBlue’s expected contributions to ViaSat earnings, profits and EPS; projections of earnings, revenue, costs or other financial items of ViaSat, WildBlue and the combined company; the anticipated value of the combined business to customers and partners; the expected performance of WildBlue service, along with the ViaSat-1 satellite; the expected closing of the proposed acquisition; anticipated growth and trends in the business or key markets of ViaSat, WildBlue, and the combined company; and plans, objectives and strategies for future operations. Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: the ability of the parties to consummate the proposed acquisition on the terms described in this release, or at all; the satisfaction of the various closing conditions to the proposed acquisition; the ability of ViaSat to successfully integrate WildBlue operations and employees; the ability to realize anticipated benefits of the proposed acquisition, including the expectation of greater revenue opportunities, operating efficiencies and cost savings; the ability to ensure continued performance and market growth of WildBlue’s business; the ability to have manufactured or successfully launch ViaSat-1, or implement the related satellite service; the ability to realize anticipated increases in capacity, user speeds and quality by combining ViaSat-1 and WildBlue; continued turmoil in global financial markets and economies; the availability and cost of credit; the ability to successfully develop, introduce, and sell new products and enhancements; changes in relationships with key customers, suppliers, distributors, resellers, and others as a result of the acquisition; and other factors affecting the communications industry generally. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in ViaSat’s SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including ViaSat’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. The companies undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

To supplement ViaSat’s consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, ViaSat uses non-GAAP EPS and adjusted EBITDA, measures ViaSat believes are appropriate to enhance an overall understanding of ViaSat’s past financial performance and prospects for the future. Non-GAAP EPS and adjusted EBITDA exclude the effects of acquisition charges (amortization of intangible assets and acquisition related expenses) and non-cash stock-based compensation expenses. We believe the non-GAAP results provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding specific expenses that we believe are not indicative of our core operating results. In addition, since we have historically reported non-GAAP results to the investment community, we believe the inclusion of non-GAAP numbers provides consistency in our financial reporting and facilitates comparisons to the company's historical operating results. Further, these adjusted non-GAAP results are among the primary indicators that management uses as a basis for planning and forecasting in future periods. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

WildBlue is a registered trademark of WildBlue Communications Inc.
Tooway is a service mark of Eutelsat Communications.
Xplornet is a registered trademark of Barrett Xplore Inc.

SurfBeam is a registered trademark of ViaSat Inc.

Comsat Labs and Comsat Laboratories are trade names of ViaSat, Inc. Neither Comsat Labs nor Comsat Laboratories is affiliated with COMSAT Corporation. “Comsat” is a registered trademark of COMSAT Corporation.


Contact:
For ViaSat:Media RelationsBrainerd CommunicatorsJoe LoBello/Scott Cianciulli 212-986-6667 212-986-6667 212-986-6667lobello@braincomm.comcianciulli@braincomm.comorInvestor RelationsViaSat Inc. 760-476-2633 760-476-2633 760-476-2633orFor WildBlue:Dan Turak, WildBlue 720-554-7403 720-554-7403 720-554-7403dturak@wildbluecorp.com