Viasat to Accelerate European Broadband Strategy Ahead of ViaSat-3 Satellite Launch; Will Acquire Remaining Stake in its European Broadband Joint Venture, including the KA-SAT Satellite

- Viasat Will Purchase Remaining 51% Share of Wholesale Broadband Business from the Viasat-Eutelsat Joint Venture
- Deal Will Give Viasat Ownership of the European KA-SAT Satellite and its existing wholesale business
CARLSBAD, Calif., November 18, 2020 – Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company, today announced it will strengthen its European presence by purchasing the remaining 51% share of Euro Broadband Infrastructure (EBI), the wholesale broadband services business created as part of Viasat’s former partnering arrangement with Eutelsat Communications.
EBI provides fixed and mobile broadband services on a wholesale basis in the European and Mediterranean markets. In the initial partnering arrangement, Eutelsat contributed its existing European broadband operations to the wholesale business, including ownership of the KA-SAT satellite and related ground infrastructure. Eutelsat initially owned 51% of EBI, and Viasat the remaining 49% interest. The 51% controlling interest in EBI was acquired for €140M subject to customary net working capital and net debt adjustments. The purchase price will be funded with available cash, resulting in a cash outlay of €50M, net of approximately €90M of EBI’s cash on hand.
The wholesale business adds to Viasat’s established retail broadband services business in Europe where Viasat is offering enhanced home internet service in select European countries, including Spain, Norway and Poland. The Company also maintains a strong mobility presence, providing high-speed, high-quality in-flight connectivity (IFC) to seven European airlines as well as international airlines that fly into Europe. These initiatives provide a foundation for growth in the retail and mobility services sectors ahead of the launch of the ViaSat-3 global constellation. The second ViaSat-3 class satellite in that constellation will cover Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and is targeted for launch in 2022.
“Today’s transaction accelerates Viasat’s European broadband objectives by strengthening our services footprint and facilitating further market penetration,” said Keven Lippert, chief commercial officer, Viasat. “By gaining full control of KA-SAT, Viasat can further expand its growing mobility business as well as establish operations and market presence ahead of our ViaSat-3 service launch, including the introduction of new capabilities enabling high-speed, high-bandwidth ‘ViaSat-3-like’ home internet service plans in select European markets. This earlier market roll-out will enable Viasat to build awareness and market knowledge ahead of the European service launch of the ViaSat-3 satellite platform. Additionally, through 100% ownership of EBI, Viasat will be better equipped to execute its distribution strategy ahead of the ViaSat-3 services launch by onboarding new local partners.”
Under the agreement, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries will continue to provide transitional services for a limited period of time to Viasat’s EBI business, including the operation of the ground network for KA-SAT, while Viasat/EBI will provide service continuity to the KA-SAT subscriber base of Eutelsat’s Bigblu Broadband Europe division.
Two years following closing, the €140M in consideration may be adjusted up or down by up to €20M depending on the performance of certain EBI financial metrics achieved over this period. The transaction is expected to be accretive to the Company’s earnings and EBITDA performance, and deleveraging with respect to the Company’s debt to trailing twelve months EBITDA ratios. Closing of this transaction is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2021, subject to customary conditions precedent.
Related News.
September 29, 2026
Register Now for the CSN London Maritime Forum “Shipping: Predicting an Unpredictable Future”, 13 October – Two Weeks Left
“Shipping: Predicting an Unpredictable Future” REGISTER HERE Date: 13 September 2026 Time: 09:00-16:00 Venue: Marriott Hotel Regent's Park Following…
September 29, 2026
Working visit of the Shipping Deputy Minister of Cyprus to Brussels
The Shipping Deputy Minister to the President, Ms. Marina Hadjimanolis, departed on Monday, 28 September 2026, for Brussels, following an official…
September 29, 2026
Navigating the S-100 Transition: Real-World Trials and the Future of Digital Navigation
As the maritime industry prepares for the implementation of the S-100 data standard, the shift from traditional Electronic Navigational Charts (S-57)…
September 29, 2026
Electronic evidence is transforming maritime casualty investigations, says The Nautical Institute
New edition of Guidelines for Collecting Maritime Evidence Volume 2 addresses electronic records, AI, digital reconstruction and the changing…
September 29, 2026
Xeneta freight rates set to climb in early October
“For the high-flying spot rates from Far East to US East and West Coasts, we may just begin to see the end of that rising trend as we get into the…
September 29, 2026
A new gateway to Turkey – Stolthaven Terminals and Rönesans Holding on the DAPEK Ceyhan Terminal
Stolthaven Terminals and Rönesans Holding are building a new chemical and industrial terminal at Ceyhan, on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. The…
September 29, 2026
KME & KMSM Family Day 2026 held in Singapore
Promoting Business Understanding and Employee Engagement Through Interaction Between Employees and Their Families K LINE MARINE & ENERGY a…
September 29, 2026
Maritime Coastguard Agency celebrates World Maritime Day 2026
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has written to the International Maritime Organization on World Maritime Day. On Thursday 24 September,…
September 29, 2026
Paracel Carbon Forestry Project verifies first carbon removal credits
Paracel, a large-scale carbon removals project in Paraguay backed by Trafigura, has verified its first carbon removal credits, totalling over 190,000…
September 29, 2026
When the Levee Breaks
The weakest June for Chinese crude imports in a decade did not cost a single barrel of throughput. Imports fell 41.3% on the year, runs held above…
Subscribe to our newsletter!
if you dont want to swim alone in the ocean of news, sign up for the newsletter, and you will receive daily all the important news of world shipping!
Design & Development by P.KAN.DESIGNER
© 2026 Cyprus Shipping News. All rights reserved
Design & Development by P.KAN.DESIGNER
© 2026 Cyprus Shipping News. All rights reserved























