
New Partnership Will Leverage Eutelsat's Successful European Broadband Business and ViaSat's Advanced Broadband Technologies and Consumer ISP Business Expertise
Carlsbad, Calif., and Paris, 9 February 2016 - Eutelsat Communications (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL) and ViaSat Inc.(NASDAQ: VSAT) today announced an agreement to create a joint venture combining Eutelsat's current European broadband business with ViaSat's industry-leading broadband technologies and consumer Internet Service Provider (ISP) business expertise.
Building on a decade-long relationship, Eutelsat and ViaSat are joining forces to create a partnership that will expand Eutelsat's current wholesale broadband business and launch a new consumer retail service in Europe. The joint venture will initially leverage KA-SAT, Eutelsat's high capacity broadband satellite.
Commenting on the new partnership, Michel de Rosen, Eutelsat Chairman and CEO, said: With KA-SAT, our unique dedicated High Throughput Satellite, Eutelsat has built an effective, high-quality, broadband platform for Europe in which ViaSat has played a key role as technical partner. Broadband is an important component of our strategy, and we seek to partner with market-leading companies that contribute to enriching our offer. ViaSat is a partner that we both trust and value for its track record in setting industry standards and developing technologies that unlock broadband opportunities. Our joint venture will take our relationship to a new level and give further impetus to affordable, high-quality Internet services in Europe.
ViaSat's Chairman and CEO, Mark Dankberg continued: Eutelsat is the clear leader in the European broadband market and is an obvious partner in extending our global reach. We have worked together for more than a decade - creating the satellite broadband market and sharing a vision for the future of satellite broadband. We complement each other extremely well. We offer a powerful team to close the digital divide in Europe today and well into the future. The joint venture combines an unprecedented collection of expertise in satellite operations and technology, broadband networks, and wholesale and retail distribution throughout Europe that forms the foundation for next-generation internet services. We're excited to be working with Eutelsat to bring a proven model to the European and Mediterranean markets.
Since KA-SAT entered service in 2011, Eutelsat has capitalised on its high capacity satellite platform in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin to reach 190,000 customers. ViaSat has proven success in the consumer residential market.
The joint venture will consist of two businesses coordinating efforts to expand the European broadband market:
Wholesale Services will be focused on providing wholesale broadband services in the European and Mediterranean regions to the newly established retail services business and existing Eutelsat distributors. Eutelsat will contribute its current European broadband business including the KA-SAT satellite. ViaSat will continue to provide selected broadband technologies for KA-SAT gateways and terminals and will acquire a 49 percent interest in the business for a consideration of 132.5 million. For future capacity, the partnership will continue to evaluate over the next few months the ViaSat-3 technology and the extent and the terms under which it would utilise the European capacity on the new ultra-high throughput ViaSat-3 platform, which ViaSat expects to bring into service in 2020. The partnership will also continue to study other options to add growth capacity in the nearer and long term.
Retail Services will be focused on building a direct-to-consumer ISP business in Europe. Enhanced service plans will be introduced in select European countries throughout 2016, setting a foundation for growth in the retail services business with the availability of future satellite capacity. The business will be owned 51 percent by ViaSat and 49 percent by Eutelsat.
Completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, and is currently expected to close during the second quarter of 2016.
About Eutelsat Communications
Established in 1977, Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is one of the worlds leading and most experienced operators of communications satellites. The company provides capacity on 40 satellites to clients that include broadcasters and broadcasting associations, pay-TV operators, video, data and Internet service providers, enterprises and government agencies.
Eutelsat's satellites provide ubiquitous coverage of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas, enabling video, data, broadband and government communications to be established irrespective of a user's location.
Headquartered in Paris, with offices and teleports around the globe, Eutelsat represents a workforce of 1,000 men and women from 37 countries who are experts in their fields and work with clients to deliver the highest quality of service.
For more about Eutelsat please visit www.eutelsat.com
Press
Vanessa O'Connor Tel: 33 1 53 98 37 91 voconnor@eutelsat.com
Marie-Sophie Ecuer Tel: 33 1 53 98 37 91 mecuer@eutelsat.com
Violaine du Boucher Tel: 33 1 53 98 37 91 vduboucher@eutelsat.com
Investors and analysts
Joanna Darlington Tel. : 33 1 53 98 35 30 jdarlington@eutelsat.com
C dric Pugni Tel. : 33 1 53 98 35 30 cpugni@eutelsat.com
Follow us at:
About ViaSat
ViaSat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT) keeps the world connected. As a global broadband services and technology company, ViaSat ensures consumers, businesses, governments and military personnel have communications access - anywhere - whether on the ground or in-flight. The Companys innovations in designing highest-capacity sate
Most recent headlines
06/10/2025
France T l visions, France's leading broadcaster, has received the 2025 EBU ...
06/09/2025
(L-R) Dylan O'Brien and James Sweeney attend the 2025 Sundance Film Festival Twinless premiere at Eccles Theatre. (Photo by George Pimentel/Shutterstock f...
06/09/2025
LONDON Vizrt has introduced Viz Arena 6, the newest version of its all-in-one live augmented reality (AR) graphics and virtual advertising sports solution. The ...
06/09/2025
SEATTLE Amazon Web Services (AWS) will feature 56 AWS Partners making various demos that showcase the technologies and use cases shaping the future of the Media...
06/09/2025
In news that highlights the ongoing importance of video games, PBS Kids is making its first foray into gameplay content with the September 5 launch of Odd Squa...
06/09/2025
PBS chief executive Paula Kerger has sent an email to staff outlining plans to cut about 100 positions or 15% of its staff, following the loss of Federal fundin...
06/09/2025
A new era of recognition as IABM honors the people, projects and innovations driving real impact
IABM has confirmed the shortlist for the new IABM Impact Award...
06/09/2025
Vizrt, the leader in live production technology revolutionizing viewer experiences, announces new capabilities to help customers create once, adapt automaticall...
06/09/2025
Studio Technologies, a leading manufacturer of high-quality audio, video, and fiber-optic solutions, will spotlight four of its innovative audio solutions at th...
06/09/2025
DigitalGlue, creator of the award-winning creative.space managed storage platform, today announced a technology preview of Creative Intelligence (CI) powered by...
06/09/2025
Eye Filmmuseum is the Netherlands leading film museum, offering a rich variety of experiences from screenings of classic films to cultural exhibitions. With fou...
06/09/2025
The latest innovations in Grass Valley's AMPP applications will be on full display at IBC 2025, as the company brings significant updates to Playout X, its ...
06/09/2025
Disguise has announced the launch of the GX 3 , its most powerful media server ever. Built on NVIDIA's cutting-edge Blackwell GPU architecture and including...
06/09/2025
Autoscript and Autocue have announced the launch of a new advanced PTZ prompter system shared by both brands and designed to provide seamless, professional prom...
06/09/2025
Sachtler has added four new models to its award-winning aktiv and FSB Mk II fluid head ranges. The aktiv16T and aktiv18T, plus the FSB 16T Mk II and FSB 18T Mk...
06/09/2025
CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB), one of the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world, will present its bold new vision for the fu...
06/09/2025
DHD has chosen IBC 2025 (Amsterdam, 12-15 September) as the launch venue for the latest version of its RM1 all-in-one portable audio production and broadcast sy...
06/09/2025
AJA Video Systems debuted IP25-R, a Mini-Converter for connecting SMPTE ST 2110 networks with 4K SDI/HDMI infrastructures. IP25-R lets broadcast, production, an...
06/09/2025
AJA Video Systems today introduced new products and updates ahead of the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) 2025 that streamline signal flow management...
06/09/2025
Researchers map key human proteins that power coronavirus replication, pointing to new treatment strategies Findings from Scripps Research reveal promising drug...
05/09/2025
Your listening habits are as unique as you are-and this year, Spotify has introduced a wave of new features to help you personalize your experience. From playli...
05/09/2025
SBS kicks off a confident slate with the 2026 FIFA World Cup 2026 , premium dram...
05/09/2025
Today's Historic Settlement Underscores SBS's Powerful New Series The Pe...
05/09/2025
L3Harris Chief Financial Officer and Aerojet Rocketdyne President Ken Bedingfiel...
05/09/2025
PHILADELPHIA NBC Sports will present tonight's NFL Kickoff Game between the '25 Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys on Peacock in...
05/09/2025
Warner Bros. Discovery filed a lawsuit against Gen AI company Midjourney this week, claiming that the company violated the studio's copyright....
05/09/2025
Alum Esin Ayd ng z Pens Nevermore Alma Mater' for Netflix's Wednesday The Grammy-nominated composer appears on this season's soundtrack alongside...
05/09/2025
C-SPAN and YouTube this week announced an agreement in which YouTube will sponsor C-SPAN's America 250 programming and expand access to C-SPAN's politic...
05/09/2025
LONDON Live broadcast infrastructure solutions provider Techex has added Peter Dawidzik as senior director, sales and business development....
05/09/2025
As news organizations and broadcasters face more pressure than ever to capture, verify, and distribute real-time access to breaking news, Reuters and Amazon Web...
05/09/2025
LOS ANGELES The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) today said it has begun accepting submissions for its expanded HPA Engineering Excellence Awards, which...
05/09/2025
Sage has released an update to its most recent firmware for its Digital ENDEC model 3644....
05/09/2025
LONDON and LOS ANGELES ThinkAnalytics will debut ThinkMetadataAI, the company's latest step in recommendations, search and discovery services....
05/09/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commissions Media Bureau has announced that the agency is initiating a phased process to lift the current freeze on major ...
05/09/2025
TORONTO Quickplay will feature its newly unveiled AI Studio that assists broadcasters and streamers in transforming their content libraries into short-form asse...
05/09/2025
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Announces Five-Year Partnership with The Verdon F...
05/09/2025
Alum Esin Ayding z Pens Nevermore Alma Mater' for Netflix's Wednesday The Grammy-nominated composer appears on this season's soundtrack alongside...
05/09/2025
Rohde & Schwarz UK awarded Silver Award under Defence Employer Recognition Schem...
05/09/2025
Back to All News
Two Desperate Souls and One Desperate Choice: As You Stood By...
05/09/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Unveils New BAKI-DOU' Anime and First Look at BE...
05/09/2025
This weekend sees another feast in store for all sport fans as RT airs a jam-packed schedule of live, free-to-air sport.
The Amgen Irish Open continues all we...
04/09/2025
(Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones appear in Train Dreams by Clint Bentley, an of...
04/09/2025
SBS kicks off a confident slate with the 2026 FIFA World Cup2026 , premium drama...
04/09/2025
Watch the Record-breaking Koori Knockout 2025 LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on NITV and SBS...
04/09/2025
WALTHAM, Mass. Zixi, a provider of video-delivery-over-IP technology, has named Sue Mitchell as director of account management, EMEA....
04/09/2025
NEW YORK In news that highlights the importance of the NFL and sports for the TV and streaming industry, NBCUniversal is reporting record revenue for its 20th s...
04/09/2025
OTTAWA Ross Video has acquired LAMA, a Dutch-based developer of advanced audio production software known for its innovative live mixing solutions. The acquisiti...
04/09/2025
CINCINNATI GatesAir will bring its 5G passthrough demo to IBC audiences once again as interest in the technology's value for broadcast-to-mobile delivery gr...
04/09/2025
BURY ST. EDMUNDS, England Autoscript and Autocue will showcase their newly launched PTZ prompter system during IBC2025, Sept. 12-15 at the RAI Amsterdam Convent...
04/09/2025
Watch the Benn Family Band Perform I Wont Give Up on Americas Got Talent Assistant Professor Loren Benn and her family gave an emotional live performance of t...