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Direct-to-device satellite services successfully trialed for first time in India by Viasat and BSNL

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The companies have successfully showcased direct-to-device smartphone connectivity during this week’s India Mobile Congress in New Delhi.

NEW DELHI, Oct. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today announced it has successfully demonstrated direct-to-device satellite connectivity in India for the first time.

Working alongside partner BSNL, India’s telecommunications provider, Viasat engineers successfully showcased satellite-powered two-way messaging services for attendees at India Mobile Congress — one of Asia’s largest technology fairs. Viasat is currently working with its partners, including BSNL in India, to power the expansion of satellite services on consumer and IoT devices across the world.

In the trial, Viasat demonstrated two-way messaging and SoS messaging using a commercial Android smartphone enabled for non-terrestrial network (NTN) connectivity. The messages were sent roughly 36,000km to one of Viasat’s geostationary L-band satellites. The outcome proves satellite services to cell phone connectivity is technically feasible for Indian consumers and businesses using Viasat’s satellite network.

Direct-to-device connectivity is a new technology which allows everyday devices – like mobile phones, smart watches, or cars – industrial machinery, and transport operators to connect seamlessly to both terrestrial and satellite coverage. This means devices can stay connected from any location without the need for dedicated hardware to connect to satellites. The new technology follows new global mobile 3GPP release 17 standards, which are currently being adopted by satellite operators, mobile network operators, handset and chipset manufacturers.

Viasat has a longstanding heritage in providing satellite safety services – including providing the backbone of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety Service (GMDSS), with more than 120,000 connected safety terminals, and flight deck safety communications for over 12,000 aircraft. It provides these highly reliable safety communications through its licensed L-band spectrum.

Viasat is also a founding member of MSSA, a non-profit industry association formed to support open interoperable architectures and standards for integrating terrestrial and NTN services. For mobile network operators, using existing licensed satellite spectrum avoids tying up valuable cellular spectrum and avoids new regulatory approval processes.

Sandeep Moorthy, Chief Technical Officer, Viasat, said: “It is exciting to be showcasing the potential for direct-to-device in India, where D2D could help reduce barriers to accessing satellite connectivity – particularly in India where millions do not have access to reliable terrestrial connectivity. In the future, D2D could help transform the Indian production and supply chain to become more efficient, more sustainable and safer, and support automotive applications to enhance safety and conditions-based maintenance. Together with partners like BSNL, Viasat is driving a standards-based, open, transparent, collaborative D2D ecosystem to deliver seamless connectivity experiences no matter where a person, device, or vehicle is.”

Robert J Ravi, Chairman and Managing Director, BSNL, said: “BSNL, in an exclusive partnership with Viasat, is proud to lead Direct-to-Device innovation. Today’s successful demonstration, the first in India, showcases the potential to enhance direct communications for critical services, disaster recovery, and even rural connectivity across India using the BSNL network and Viasat’s L-band satellite constellation.”

About Viasat
Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate and connect. Viasat is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to positively impact people’s lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea, while building a sustainable future in space. In May 2023, Viasat completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and resources of the two companies to create a new global communications partner. Learn more at www.viasat.com, the Viasat News Room or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X or YouTube.

Copyright © 2024 Viasat, Inc. All rights reserved. Viasat, the Viasat logo and the Viasat Signal are registered trademarks in the U.S. and in other countries of Viasat, Inc. All other product or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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, among others, statements that refer to the technical feasibility, potential benefits or future roll-out of direct-to-device connectivity in India.  Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: future partnerships in India required to deliver direct-to-device services; network availability or satellite capacity required to scale direct-to-device services; our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of satellites and any future satellite we may construct or acquire; risks associated with the construction, launch and operation of satellites, including the effect of any anomaly, operational failure or degradation in satellite performance; the effect of adverse regulatory changes (including changes affecting spectrum availability or permitted uses) on our ability to sell or deploy our products and services; changes in the way others use spectrum; our inability to access additional spectrum, use spectrum for additional purposes, and/or operate satellites at additional orbital locations; competing uses of the same spectrum or orbital locations that we utilize or seek to utilize; In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in our SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including our 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. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.

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SOURCE Viasat, Inc.

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Intellum and Bluewater Learning Announce Strategic Partnership to Enhance Customer Education and Learning Ecosystems

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ATLANTA, Oct. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Intellum, a pioneer in learning management technology, has entered a strategic partnership with Bluewater Learning, an award-winning provider of learning technology and services. Together, these organizations will offer a comprehensive suite of solutions and services to support companies in growing and scaling their education programs.

Bluewater is a trusted partner for enterprise and mid-market organizations seeking learning strategy, workflow optimization, content development, and managed services solutions. Bluewater’s proprietary technology will enable Intellum customers to optimize workflows within the Intellum Platform, offering a no-code solution that will increase efficiency, flexibility, and overall user engagement.

“Our partnership with Bluewater Learning marks a significant step forward in helping organizations optimize and future-proof their learning ecosystems,” said Chip Ramsey, CEO of Intellum. “By combining Bluewater’s advisory expertise and micro apps with Intellum’s leading customer education platform, we’re empowering businesses to enhance their learning strategies, adapt to change efficiently, and deliver measurable results. Together, we are driving innovation that makes learning more impactful and sustainable.”

This partnership will also provide clients with access to strategic consulting on governance, change management, and ecosystem development—ensuring that their education initiatives are aligned with long-term business objectives. By leveraging Bluewater’s expertise in advisory services and Intellum’s cutting-edge learning platform, organizations can seamlessly scale their programs to meet evolving demands and deliver measurable business outcomes.

“We believe that the future of learning lies in adaptable learning ecosystems that scale with business needs,” said Chris Bond, CEO of Bluewater Learning. “Our partnership with Intellum allows us to offer technologies and enhanced services that empower organizations to evolve their customer education strategies and better serve their target audience.”

About Intellum
Intellum provides the corporate education platform that large brands and fast-moving companies rely on to improve product adoption, customer retention, and revenue. Intellum’s scientific, data-driven approach is based on 20+ years of industry experience. The Intellum Platform includes all the tools an organization needs to create, deploy, manage, track, and improve highly personalized, engaging educational experiences. To learn more, visit https://Intellum.com.

About Bluewater Learning
Bluewater creates clients for life by helping them optimize their learning and talent technologies. Their team of experts provides strategic advisory services, custom content development, and managed services that enable organizations to achieve their learning goals. They focus on relationships, not transactions, and deliver flexible solutions tailored to each client’s unique needs.

Media contact: 
media@intellum.com

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SOURCE Intellum, Inc.

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Garmin wins fourth National Boating Safety Award

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Sea Tow Foundation honors Garmin’s outstanding commitment to boating safety through product innovation and promotion efforts

OLATHE, Kan., Oct. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Garmin (NYSE: GRMN), the world’s most innovative and recognized marine electronics manufacturer, is proud to announce it was awarded a 2024 National Boating Safety Award from the Sea Tow Foundation for the fourth straight year. The award, presented on October 2, 2024, in cooperation with the Boating Safety Advisory Council, highlights for-profit companies in the recreational boating industry that promote safe and responsible boating.

Garmin received top honors in the Gear and Equipment Manufacturer category for helping educate customers and the public about the importance of having the right tools, equipment and knowledge to stay safe on the water in conjunction with National Safe Boating Week 2024. Along with social posts, Garmin helped influence safe boating practices through informative blog posts, providing useful tips to stay vigilant on board and highlighting stories of how Garmin’s marine products protect boaters every day. The company also hosted a special marine webinar, which included demonstrations on how to use Garmin electronics, emphasized the importance of updating maps and more.

“We are honored to receive a National Boating Industry Safety Award for the fourth year in a row. This award is a testament to Garmin’s commitment to creating products that can support safe and responsible boating practices for our customers. We look forward to continuing to provide products and resources to foster a stronger, smarter community of boaters, anglers and sailors alike, and we thank the Sea Tow Foundation for this recognition.”
—Jarrod Seymour, Garmin Vice President and Marine Segment Leader

For decades, Garmin products — such as inReach® satellite communicators, charts and maps with daily updates from the No. 1 choice in marine mapping1, AIS monitoring, VHF marine radio systems, marine radars, camera systems and more — have provided greater peace of mind and situational awareness from the moment boaters push off from the dock. Garmin continues to prioritize the value of safer boating behavior by offering communication and navigation systems with seamless onboard integration and a variety of resources designed to cultivate greater confidence when leaving shore.

“We are proud of the hard work and dedication to boating safety that Garmin has put forward. Their innovative campaigns and dedication to safety have made a profound impact, contributing to a safer boating experience for all, not just this year, but as a repeat winner of the National Boating Safety Awards for their efforts in promoting safe boating across the industry for four straight years.”
—Gail R. Kulp, Sea Tow Foundation Executive Director

For more information about this year’s Boating Safety Awards, visit boatingsafety.com/awards.

Engineered on the inside for life on the outside, Garmin products have revolutionized life for anglers, sailors, mariners and boat enthusiasts everywhere. Committed to developing the most sophisticated marine electronics the industry has ever known, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate and a chance to beat yesterday. For the tenth consecutive year, Garmin was named the Manufacturer of the Year by the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA). Other Garmin marine brands include Navionics® and JL Audio®. Visit the Garmin Newsroom, email our media team, connect with @garminmarine on social, or follow our blog

1Based on 2023 sales

About Garmin International, Inc. Garmin International, Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (NYSE: GRMN). Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Garmin, inReach, Navionics and JL Audio are registered trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.

All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

Notice on Forward-Looking Statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2023, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0001-411180). A copy of such Form 10-K is available at http://www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Brianna Silverman
913-397-8200
media.relations@garmin.com

 

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SOURCE Garmin International, Inc.

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Space Development Agency Award Continues Iridium’s Commercial Innovation Delivery Strategy for Government

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MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM), a leading provider of global voice and data satellite communications, today announced the Space Development Agency (SDA) has awarded the General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) and Iridium team a $491.6 million contract modification in support of its Ground Management and Integration (GMI) program for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). Of this amount, Iridium’s share has a value of $239 million over five years. This award follows an initial Operations and Integration Contract award in 2022 to build ground entry points and operations centers and manage network operations and systems integration services.

“We are committed to delivering SDA and our warfighters an innovative and effective ground system that leverages the many years of Iridium’s unparalleled commercial LEO development and operations expertise, helping to ensure they are prepared for the challenges of today and the future,” said Scott Scheimreif, executive vice president, government programs, Iridium. “Iridium is excited to be part of this groundbreaking SDA program with our partner General Dynamics Mission Systems.”

With over 20 years of experience operating a crosslinked low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, Iridium is the pre-eminent leader in commercial satellite communications network management. This unique expertise which includes ground segments, orbital operations and space sustainability leadership, is dedicated to supporting the SDA’s efforts to integrate innovative commercial strategies that help the United States quickly deploy the most effective space technologies available in support of the warfighter. Through this new contract modification, the GDMS-Iridium team will deliver a forward-compatible, state-of-the-art ground system developed in close partnership with SDA and related stakeholders. The companies will manage integration of the ground enterprise with SDA’s Tranche 2 constellation. This includes all required services ranging from engineering design and analysis to testing, maintenance, infrastructure management and site support.

For more information about the PWSA and SDA visit: https://www.sda.mil

To learn more about Iridium visit: https://www.iridium.com

About Iridium Communications Inc. 

Iridium® is the only mobile voice and data satellite communications network that spans the entire globe. Iridium enables connections between people, organizations, and assets to and from anywhere, in real time. Together with its ecosystem of partner companies, Iridium delivers an innovative and rich portfolio of reliable solutions for markets that require truly global communications. In 2024, Iridium acquired Satelles, Inc. and announced the Iridium Satellite Time and Location service. Iridium Communications Inc. is headquartered in McLean, Va., U.S.A., and its common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol IRDM. For more information about Iridium products, services, and partner solutions, visit www.iridium.com

Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure

Statements in this press release that are not purely historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company has based these statements on its current expectations and the information currently available to us. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding the value of the contract award and the capabilities of the SDA network. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words “anticipates,” “may,” “can,” “believes,” “expects,” “projects,” “intends,” “likely,” “will,” “to be” and other expressions that are predictions or indicate future events, trends or prospects. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Iridium to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, uncertainties regarding U.S. government procurement and development of the SDA network, as well as general industry and economic conditions, and competitive, legal, governmental and technological factors. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements include those factors listed under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 15, 2024, and the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on July 23, 2024, as well as other filings Iridium makes with the SEC from time to time. There is no assurance that Iridium’s expectations will be realized. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Iridium’s underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected, estimated or projected. Iridium’s forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Iridium undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.

Press Contact:

Investor Contact:

Jordan Hassin

Kenneth Levy

Iridium Communications Inc.

Iridium Communications Inc.

Jordan.Hassin@Iridium.com

Ken.Levy@Iridium.com

+1 (703) 287-7421

+1 (703) 287-7570

X: @Iridiumcomm

 

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SOURCE Iridium Communications Inc.

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