US satellite broadband provider ViaSat has acquired a high-rate modem product line by snapping up electronics specialist Gray Labs to boost its data throughput.
ViaSat said it has also acquired custom spacecraft technologies from the group for Earth…
US satellite broadband provider ViaSat has acquired a high-rate modem product line by snapping up electronics specialist Gray Labs to boost its data throughput.
ViaSat said it has also acquired custom spacecraft technologies from the group for Earth observation, supporting applications for high-speed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data communications.
Jim Gray, former Gray Labs president, has been appointed to a senior consulting position at ViaSat to expand the capabilities of its ISR portfolio.
He was previously part of Scientific Atlanta Antenna Systems and set up Gray Labs after that group was bought by ViaSat in 1999. In total, five employees from the niche firm have now joined the operator.
“With the combination of our advanced technologies and our strong positions in the satellite ISR market, we’re looking forward to accomplishing great things as we move forward together,” said Gray.
Kent Leka, ViaSat’s VP of satellite ground systems, said the acquisition will help the group maximise satellite data rates as the output of ISR sensors continues to grow exponentially.
“The expertise we obtained from Gray Labs in high-rate communications gives us important new ways to deliver a higher level of performance and increased data throughput for commercial and government customers,” he said.
“We’re also gaining technical expertise and an entrepreneurial spirit that the Gray Labs team has in common with ViaSat.”
ViaSat declined to disclose financial details, but said no advisers were used because of the deal’s small size.
