spacetoday.net: ViaSat to buy WildBlue

Posted: Sat, Oct 3, 2009, 11:27 AM ET (1527 GMT)
ViaSat announced Thursday that it is acquiring WildBlue Communications, a deal that brings together a company planning to provide satellite broadband services with one that already does. ViaSat will pat $568 million, primarily in cash, to acquire WildBlue, in a deal expected to close in early 2010. ViaSat is best known as a manufacturer of ground equipment, but in 2008 ordered its first satellite, ViaSat-1, with a Ka-band payload designed to serve the growing demand for satellite broadband services. WildBlue already provides those services through its own satellite and leases on others, but has suffered from problems as demand for the service outstrips capacity. ViaSat-1, scheduled for launch in 2011, will provide 10 times the capacity of WildBlue's current system.