ViaSat Exede Debuts Virtually Unlimited Satellite Internet Service in Hawaii

Beginning this week, ViaSat Inc. will offer Exede high-speed satellite internet plans that provide households across the Hawaiian Islands with virtually unlimited data usage for communications, web browsing, and streaming media.

Virtually unlimited satellite internet service -- providing at least 150 GBs of monthly data without a strict data allowance -- is another notable first for ViaSat, a company with a history of leadership in technology and market innovation.

Its Exede Internet consumer service, powered by the world's highest capacity communications satellite ViaSat-1, was the first high-speed satellite service to reach a significant portion of the U.S., including rural and remote areas that had historically limited internet options.

With the recent growth in household data usage, especially for streaming services, ViaSat is again leading the industry in addressing customers' needs for higher data volumes with its Freedom plan.

"The Freedom plan shows our dedication to continually improving the customer experience and responding to their desire for more data," said Lisa Scalpone, vice president, Broadband.

"With Exede Internet, we've shown that we can deliver high speeds at reasonable cost to virtually anyone in the U.S. Now we're excited to demonstrate that satellite internet can deliver data volumes that are competitive with wireline services."

Hawaiian communities are among a number of limited markets in the U.S. selected for the Freedom plan.

New plans in other areas of the country offer double or triple current data allowances for new subscribers.

"Within the coverage we have on ViaSat-1, our objective is to put our available bandwidth to work for the benefit of our customers," said Scalpone.

Pricing for a six-month promotion of the Freedom plan is $69.99/month. The promotion is available to new subscribers through Nov. 15. Enhanced data plans will be offered to current Exede subscribers this fall in certain geographic areas.

"Exede Internet reaches the Hawaiian Islands with high speed service, which a great advantage for many residents, especially those in rural and remote areas," said Rich Beezley, broadband manager for Microcom, serving the Hawaiian Islands.

"However, the data cap has been one of satellite internet's limitations. We're very excited about the introduction of this virtually unlimited Exede Internet plan here, which will meet our customers' needs for more data for communications and streaming."

ViaSat also offers Exede In The Air high-speed in-flight internet for airline passengers on JetBlue and United; Exede Business for added speed and data tailored to business subscribers; and Exede Enterprise communications for live events, field operations and disaster response.

In a June 2014 report from the FCC, Exede Internet led 14 other internet services in delivering advertised speed, with peak period upload and download speeds of approximately 140 percent of what is promoted.

This is the second consecutive year that Exede Internet's performance was at the top of the charts in the agency's annual independent study, "Measuring Broadband America."