The ViaSat‑3 Flight 2 satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral on November 13, 2025, at 10:04 p.m. EST, and the company confirmed signal acquisition shortly after separation. The launch added a high‑capacity Ka‑band satellite to the constellation, increasing total network throughput by more than 1 Tbps and extending coverage across the Americas.
The new satellite is a key element of ViaSat’s multi‑orbit strategy, which blends geostationary (GEO) and low‑Earth orbit (LEO) assets. Unlike its first ViaSat‑3 satellite, which suffered an antenna deployment issue that limited capacity, Flight 2 incorporates corrective design changes that restore full beam‑forming capability. The result is a more flexible, higher‑bandwidth platform that can be re‑allocated to meet shifting demand, a capability that is especially valuable for aviation, government, and commercial customers.
In its Q2 FY2026 earnings, ViaSat reported earnings per share of $0.09, beating the consensus estimate of –$0.11 by $0.20. Revenue for the quarter was $1.14 billion, a 2.0 % decline YoY and slightly below the $1.15 billion consensus. The EPS beat was driven by disciplined cost management and a favorable mix shift toward higher‑margin aviation and government services, while the revenue miss reflected a 2.5 % decline in the maritime segment and a 1.8 % drop in fixed‑satellite services.
Segment analysis shows that aviation and government satellite communications grew 4.2 % and 3.7 % respectively, offsetting weakness in maritime and fixed segments. The stronger performance in aviation is linked to increased demand for in‑flight broadband, while government contracts benefited from new defense‑grade services. The maritime decline was attributed to pricing pressure and a slowdown in global shipping demand, and the fixed‑satellite dip stemmed from competitive pricing in the fixed‑satellite market.
Management highlighted the launch as a “critical milestone” that validates the company’s multi‑orbit approach. CEO Mark Dankberg noted that the successful deployment “significantly scales the network’s performance and capacity to support growing customer needs across the Americas.” Analyst coverage followed, with several firms upgrading their ratings and raising price targets, reflecting confidence in the company’s execution and the strategic value of the new satellite.
Looking ahead, the satellite is expected to enter commercial service in early 2026 after in‑orbit testing. ViaSat plans to integrate Telesat Lightspeed LEO capacity into its JetXP in‑flight broadband service, aiming to offer lower latency and higher reliability than competitors such as Starlink. The combination of GEO and LEO assets positions ViaSat to capture a larger share of the high‑bandwidth market while mitigating the risks of a single‑orbit dependency.
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