Will the Second ViaSat-3 Meet Expectations?
Sep 15, 2025
The ViaSat-3 constellation was first conceived as a revolutionary satellite system that would transform global broadband connectivity. In February 2016, Viasat Chairman and CEO Mark Dankberg made a bold prediction that the capacity of each ViaSat-3 satellite would exceed the capacity of the rest of the telecommunications spacecraft in the world combined, including all the High Throughput Satellites (HTS) being built by that time. The company envisioned the possibility of having three geostationary high capacity satellites, each having over one terabit per second of network capacity that would basically increase the bandwidth capacity in orbit by a factor of two. This was a tremendous objective as a breakthrough in satellite communications technology that was likely to transform the capacity landscape of the industry.
Viasat Satellite Fleet Lineup. Credit: Viasat
Its first development plan was strongly based on vertical integration, where Viasat would use its experience in creating satellite payloads through past subcontracting experience at Thales Alenia Space in the Iridium Next project. Boeing was chosen as the prime contractor on the first two ViaSat-3 satellites, but their role was designed to include only the payload infrastructure as Viasat would then add its own modules. The company had originally planned to roll out ViaSat-3 Americas in the middle of 2019 and ViaSat-3 EMEA in the beginning of 2020, with the third satellite to be launched in the Asia-Pacific market. The aggressive schedule was to lessen the difference between ViaSat-2 and ViaSat-3 by five years to about two years, which shows that the company was confident in its accrued technological achievements.
Challenges and Setbacks on the Road from Promise to Reality
The journey from conception to implementation proved to be much more difficult than it was previously thought, as the ViaSat-3 program faced many delays that pushed the launch date which was originally in 2020 to 2023. By the time ViaSat-3 F1 was actually launched in 2023, the satellite had experienced a major antenna deployment anomaly which crippled its operational capacity. The first satellite was only capable of delivering a fraction of the promised terabit-scale bandwidth, and Viasat was unable to serve its customers beyond aerospace and the government, which also meant that its limited bandwidth was used mostly by those customers. This was a blow especially considering the colossal investments and expectations of the constellation and the nature of the risks involved in pushing the limits of satellite technology.
ViaSat-3 F1 Americas launched to GEO on April 30, 2023, via Falcon Heavy from Kennedy Space Center. Credit: Viasat
The antenna malfunction of ViaSat-3 F1 posed a serious operational and financial setback to Viasat since the firm had established its business model on the premise that it would have several ultra-high capacity satellites in operation. The lower capacity also meant that numerous scheduled commercial broadband services needed to be cut or postponed, affecting revenue expectations and expansion plans. Nevertheless, these problems did not stop Viasat in its further work on the second and third satellites, taking into account the experience of the problems with the launch of the first satellite. The company did not relent on the constellation but still recognized the technical issues that were involved in installing such sophisticated satellite systems.
Recent Progress and Financial Performance
By August 2025, Viasat demonstrated financial resilience despite the ViaSat-3 setbacks, reporting stronger year-over-year revenue growth in the first quarter of fiscal 2026. Much of this was driven by the Defense and Advanced Technologies (DAT) segment of the company, with revenue growing by 15% year-over-year to reach $344 million, especially in information security, cyber defense, high assurance encryption products, and antenna systems. Total company revenue was $1.2 billion, an increase of 4% year-over-year, and Communication Services was flat at $827 million, while aviation revenue within that segment rose 14% to $293 million.
Viasat HQ Credit: Viasat
The operational metrics of the company indicated that it was still experiencing momentum in major markets and in the quarter, it had added 100 commercial aircraft and 100 business aviation aircraft to its portfolio of services. Nevertheless, commercial aircraft installation backlog reduced marginally to 1,580 aircraft compared to 1,600 aircraft. Viasat was experiencing external pressure at this time due to the activist investors who wanted a spin-off or IPO of the DAT business which they claimed was not being valued. CEO Dankberg replied that the increasing synergies of the space and defense potential of the company were especially in the context of the intersection of cybersecurity and space systems, which has become a sphere of greater strategic significance to large satellite constellations.
Current Launch Plans and Future Outlook
In September 2025, Viasat announced that ViaSat-3 F2 is scheduled for launch on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 551 rocket in the second half of October 2025, with the satellite launching from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This second satellite represents a critical milestone for the company, as it is expected to provide more bandwidth capacity than Viasat’s entire existing fleet combined. The timing comes as satellite communications demand is increasing from both commercial mobility and defense customers, positioning the additional capacity to meet growing market needs. The satellite is anticipated to enter service in early 2026, finally giving Viasat access to the full operational capacity that was originally envisioned for the ViaSat-3 constellation.
Looking ahead, the window for ViaSat-3 F3 has been adjusted to early to mid-2026, with Viasat acknowledging “potential schedule uncertainties” following shipment. CEO Mark Dankberg emphasized that the additional capacity on the network will bring greater network efficiency, performance, user experience, coverage, capacity, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. The successful deployment of ViaSat-3 F2 will mark a turning point for Viasat’s global connectivity ambitions, enabling the company to offer exciting new connectivity services alongside its established in-flight entertainment and monetization business models. Customers are reportedly excited about the addition of ViaSat-3 F2 to the global network, which is expected to significantly scale performance and increase both the number and density of users.
The upcoming launch of ViaSat-3 F2 represents more than just a technical achievement; it symbolizes Viasat’s perseverance through significant challenges and its commitment to revolutionizing global satellite communications. After years of delays and the setback with the first satellite’s antenna deployment, the successful operation of the second satellite will validate the company’s innovative approach to ultra-high-capacity satellite design. With growing demand from defense and commercial customers, and the lessons learned from previous challenges, Viasat is positioned to finally realize the transformative potential of its ViaSat-3 constellation, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape of global broadband connectivity services.
