Humanitarian Effort Provides Connectivity to
Tens of Thousands of Displaced Refugees
CARLSBAD, Calif., April 14,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT),
a global communications company, and the Košice region,
Slovakia, have partnered to
provide free high-speed internet to Ukrainian refugees in
Eastern Slovakia using Viasat's
proven satellite-enabled Community Internet system. Viasat
Community Internet (VCI) sites are being installed across
Eastern Slovakia in areas of
greatest need for refugee connectivity.
Slovakia has embraced thousands
of refugees daily since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict. One of the major challenges
refugees face when arriving in Slovakia is access to the internet for online
news, digital tools and resources. Viasat's high-speed Community
Internet service provides an opportunity for refugees to
communicate with loved ones and stay informed. Additionally,
the Company is working with local partners to ensure installations
of its Community Internet service sites are meeting the refugees'
needs. This humanitarian effort is powered by the KA-SAT
network which has provided satellite-based high-speed internet to
thousands of Ukrainians for a decade.
The Viasat Community Internet service implements a public Wi-Fi
hotspot connected and enabled by a Viasat satellite to deliver
free high-speed internet service to these refugee communities that
previously had little or no internet connectivity. The Viasat
Community Internet service seeks to improve the quality of life of
unserved and underserved individuals and families by giving them
better access to online tools, resources and streaming video.
"Today we are demonstrating our mission to provide high-quality
connectivity across the globe by helping Ukrainian refugees. By
partnering with the Košice region, we can provide a much-needed
resource to Ukrainians during this incredible time of need," said
Evan Dixon, president of global
fixed broadband at Viasat. "Our satellite-based Community Internet
service enables us to connect tens of thousands of refugees at no
cost to them so they can access high-speed internet to remain
connected to family and friends and follow current events."
Rastislav Trnka, president of the
Košice region, "The Košice region is at the front line of helping
people of Ukraine, given that it
is located in the immediate vicinity of the Ukraine-Slovakia border. Since the beginning of this
conflict, we have been helping people driven from their homes by
operating humanitarian warehouses, offering information points at
borders and stations, providing free transport and accommodations
in emergency facilities for war refugees and coordinating
volunteers. So far, we have provided accommodations across
emergency facilities to more than 5,500 residents of Ukraine. We welcome Viasat's high-speed
satellite internet which allows us provide an opportunity for
refugees to immediately access critical information and
communications."
About Viasat
Viasat is a global communications
company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be
connected. For 35 years, Viasat has helped shape how
consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world
communicate. Today, the Company is developing the ultimate global
communications network to power high-quality, secure, affordable,
fast connections to impact people's lives anywhere they are—on the
ground, in the air or at sea. To learn more about Viasat,
visit: www.viasat.com, go to Viasat's Corporate
Blog, or follow the Company on social media
at: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube.
Forward-Looking Statements
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 statements
that refer to the arrangement between, resources committed and
services to be performed by Viasat, Skylogic and the Košice region
of Slovakia; the benefits of the
Community Internet connectivity service; the countries to be served
by the Community Internet connectivity service; the opportunity to
expand into other geographies, business areas or applications; and
the timing and availability of service on the KA-SAT satellite
networks. Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ
materially and adversely from those expressed in any
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results
to differ include: risks associated with the construction, launch
and operation of satellites, including the effect of any anomaly,
operational failure or degradation in satellite performance;
contractual problems, product defects, manufacturing issues or
delays, regulatory issues, technologies not being developed
according to anticipated schedules, or that do not perform
according to expectations, and increased competition and other
factors affecting the connectivity market, 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. Viasat undertakes no obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.
Copyright © 2022 Viasat, Inc. All rights reserved. Viasat,
the Viasat logo and the Viasat signal are registered trademarks of
Viasat, Inc. All other product or company names mentioned are used
for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their
respective owners.
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SOURCE Viasat, Inc.