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Viasat HEO payloads to soon support airlines with legacy GX Hardware

Viasat has consistently pushed the boundaries of global broadband, engineering networks that extend high-speed internet to some of the most bandwidth-challenged environments on Earth. From rural villages to open oceans and aircraft at 35,000 feet, the company’s mission targets one key goal: connect everyone, everywhere.

In the aviation sector, that goal comes with a unique set of complications. As passenger expectations soar and demand for uninterrupted inflight connectivity intensifies, airlines face mounting pressure to overhaul existing systems. Travelers aren’t simply checking email mid-flight—they’re streaming video, joining video calls, and syncing cloud-based workspaces. That bandwidth-hungry behavior requires infrastructure ready to deliver high throughput, minimal latency, and global consistency.

Yet, many commercial airlines continue to operate with first-generation GX (Global Xpress) hardware. These systems, while groundbreaking in their time, lack the compatibility and performance needed for modern IFE (inflight entertainment) and connectivity demands. Replacing or ripping out this hardware would mean significant downtime and investment.

The solution isn’t to start from scratch. Viasat’s soon-to-launch HEO (Highly Elliptical Orbit) payloads will bring next-gen connectivity to aircraft still equipped with legacy GX terminals. This strategy bridges old and new—delivering advanced service capabilities without forcing fleets into costly full-system overhauls. Ready to see how this technology reshapes aviation connectivity? Let’s take a closer look.

Viasat HEO Payloads: Reaching Where GEO Can't

What Are Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) Satellites?

Highly Elliptical Orbit satellites travel in long elliptical paths around the Earth. Unlike geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites, which remain fixed over the equator at about 35,786 kilometers altitude, HEO satellites swing much closer to Earth at one end of their orbit and far deeper into space at the other. A typical HEO satellite might have an apogee (farthest point from Earth) of over 39,000 kilometers and a perigee (closest point) around 500 kilometers, completing rotations in about 12 hours.

These satellites are ideally positioned to hover for extended periods over high northern or southern latitudes during the apogee phase. Engineers design them with highly inclined orbits — often 63.4 degrees or more — to maximize time spent visible over polar and sub-polar regions.

Why GEO Falls Short in Polar Regions

Traditional GEO satellites can’t deliver consistent or high-quality service at latitudes above approximately 70 degrees north or south. From these extreme vantage points, GEO satellites appear too low on the horizon, often obstructed by terrain or infrastructure. In aviation, this becomes a clear issue for transpolar flight routes or operations in destinations such as Svalbard, Prudhoe Bay, or Murmansk.

With their inclined elliptical patterns, HEO satellites sidestep this limitation. They achieve near-continuous visibility over these regions, making them the preferred approach when aiming to bridge the Arctic coverage gap.

Viasat’s Use of HEO Payloads

Viasat integrates HEO payloads specifically to extend connectivity in areas underserved by GEO infrastructure. These payloads reside on satellites positioned within Molniya or Tundra orbits — well-established HEO types created for high-latitude coverage. By doing so, Viasat ensures that connectivity does not drop off as aircraft climb deeper into Arctic airspace.

In tandem with its wider network, Viasat uses HEO payloads to deliver high capacity, low-latency broadband in territories beyond the reach of traditional platforms. The strategy empowers airlines to maintain uninterrupted connectivity across remote northern flight corridors.

Expanding the Network Without Adding Complexity

By using HEO payloads as targeted enhancements rather than standalone solutions, Viasat avoids creating isolated infrastructure. These HEO components slot into Viasat’s broader hybrid network — one that blends GEO, medium earth orbit (MEO), and future low earth orbit (LEO) components — building a unified ecosystem capable of delivering service everywhere an aircraft operates.

The takeaway? Where traditional systems taper off, Viasat HEO payloads press on, ensuring that coverage persists in an environment most other technologies neglect entirely.

Driving Revenue from 35,000 Feet: The New Standard for Inflight Connectivity

Digital Expectations at Cruising Altitude

Passengers no longer consider inflight internet a premium perk. They expect it. Whether streaming video across the Atlantic or downloading files over the Arctic Circle, travelers demand seamless, high-speed connectivity. This shift has forced airlines to treat broadband access as a core component of the onboard experience—comparable in value to seating layout or cabin service.

The Commercial Weight of Connectivity

Data from Inmarsat’s 2022 Passenger Experience Survey reported that 83% of respondents consider inflight Wi-Fi a deciding factor when booking flights. For airlines, this changes inflight internet from a nice-to-have into a direct driver of ticket sales, loyalty, and brand differentiation. Revenue opportunities span beyond the ticket.

Connectivity Quality Is No Longer Optional

Inflight broadband is either a competitive advantage or a liability. Dropped sessions, low speeds, or regional dead zones lead to negative reviews, reduced passenger satisfaction, and fewer return flyers. Airlines operating globally need consistent coverage and throughput that matches—or exceeds—terrestrial browsing experiences.

Meeting these expectations requires satellite systems capable of handling commercial aviation demand across congested air corridors, polar routes, and underserved regions. That’s where HEO payloads—particularly those retrofitted for legacy GX infrastructures—are poised to make a difference.

Legacy GX Hardware: Strengths and Limitations

Understanding the Role of Global Xpress in Aviation Connectivity

The Global Xpress (GX) satellite network, launched by Inmarsat in 2015, introduced a major shift in mobile satellite services by becoming the world’s first globally available Ka-band network delivered through a single operator. With a constellation of high-throughput satellites operating in geostationary orbit (GEO), GX brought fast and resilient high-speed connectivity to aviation, maritime, and government markets.

GX terminals, designed to work seamlessly across this global network, quickly became a popular on-board connectivity solution for commercial airlines. The appeal was straightforward—global coverage, consistent performance, and certified compatibility with inflight entertainment and connectivity systems.

The Reality of Legacy GX Across Airline Fleets

Today, legacy GX hardware remains widely deployed throughout global airline fleets, particularly among aircraft outfitted between 2016 and 2021. These terminals, though designed for earlier generations of GX satellites, continue to deliver reliable inflight connectivity under the current service model. Across fleets of major carriers like Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines, legacy GX equipment maintains service for millions of passengers annually.

The installed base spans hundreds of narrowbody and widebody aircraft. Retrofitting programs and line-fit installations over the past decade embedded GX into the avionics framework of commercial fleets, resulting in significant market penetration. In effect, GX hardware now represents one of the most common inflight connectivity infrastructures for long-haul operations.

Barriers to Hardware Replacement: Cost and Complexity

However, transitioning from this legacy infrastructure to new systems isn’t a switch airlines can flip overnight. Upgrading satellite connectivity hardware reaches far beyond procurement. The technical process involves aircraft modifications, recertification, downtime for installation, and integration tests—each adding layers of expense, risk, and disruption.

Financially, replacing functional GX hardware comes with a steep capital cost. A single retrofit operation can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars when accounting for associated labor, equipment, and aircraft ground time. Multiply this by a fleet of 100 aircraft, and carriers face upgrade expenses in the tens of millions.

From a logistical standpoint, airlines must align hardware upgrades with scheduled maintenance checks to minimize service disruptions. But maintenance cycles vary by fleet type, operating schedule, and geographical base, making coordinated retrofits difficult to scale across large, operationally diverse fleets.

In this context, any connectivity solution that supports existing GX equipment while offering access to extended capabilities—particularly enhanced coverage from high Earth orbit (HEO) payloads—presents not just a technical advancement, but a strategic asset for the aviation industry.

The Viasat–Inmarsat Integration: A Powerful Alliance

Strategic Acquisition, Tactical Advantages

In May 2023, Viasat finalized the $6.2 billion acquisition of U.K.-based Inmarsat, creating a single entity capable of delivering robust, flexible, and globally integrated satellite services. This move wasn’t merely about gaining market share—it was a calculated play to merge complementary assets, technologies, and market positions. The combined company now operates more than 20 satellites in service and has 8 additional payloads planned for launch.

Two Networks. One Ecosystem.

Viasat brings to the table its Ka-band high-capacity satellites, known for delivering high-throughput broadband—especially over dense air traffic routes. Inmarsat, on the other hand, contributes its Global Xpress (GX) network and ELERA L-band services, trusted by airlines worldwide for their reliability and resilience, even in adverse weather and remote regions.

These technologies no longer need to operate in silos. The integration enables reciprocal leverage: Viasat’s future High Earth Orbit (HEO) payloads can support aircraft currently using legacy GX terminals, while Inmarsat customers gain access to Viasat’s growing satellite infrastructure, including its upcoming ViaSat-3 constellation.

Global Reach Through Unified Infrastructure

Airlines flying long-haul or polar routes frequently face patchy connectivity as they transition between satellite footprints. The merged Viasat-Inmarsat satellite fabric mitigates these gaps. By combining Viasat’s strategically placed Ka-band assets with Inmarsat’s globally distributed GX network, the alliance builds a truly seamless global aviation coverage model.

One Connectivity Standard, Multiple Performance Tiers

This alliance allows for differentiated service packages across airline fleets using a unified satellite network. Premium cabins flying transpolar can leverage advanced high-throughput HEO-supported Ka-band, while L-band provides resilient backup services, and legacy GX remains fully operational. This multi-layer service capability stands out in an aviation industry demanding resilience, flexibility, and high service availability.

With regulatory approvals secured and integration well underway, Viasat and Inmarsat now operate as a cohesive entity with unified service delivery. What does this mean for aviation? A unified global network with the built-in flexibility to meet airline and passenger demands—today, and deep into the next-generation connectivity era.

Expanding the Sky: Viasat’s Network Growth and Payload Advancements

Designing for Longevity: Next-Generation Satellite Investments

Viasat continues to pour resources into cutting-edge payload technology, anchoring its position in the evolving connectivity landscape. The company's high-capacity high earth orbit (HEO) satellites are equipped with advanced software-defined payloads, capable of dynamically allocating bandwidth and adapting coverage on the fly. These payloads don’t just increase capacity—they reframe how and where it’s delivered.

This technological lead comes with tangible infrastructure reinforcement. Strategically deployed satellites extend reach into underserved regions while amplifying throughput over high-traffic routes. Viasat’s third-generation satellite platform, Viasat-3, exemplifies this approach with its global coverage objectives and real-time reconfigurability.

Built for Compatibility: Embracing Legacy GX Hardware

Backward compatibility remains a core design principle in Viasat’s latest satellite payloads. The company's roadmap prioritizes support for existing aircraft systems—including those fitted with Inmarsat’s Global Xpress (GX) terminals. By engineering payloads to interact seamlessly with legacy GX hardware, Viasat positions its network to carry forward thousands of aircraft already operating on GX infrastructure.

This continuity eliminates the need for costly refits while preserving operational uptime. Airlines can continue flying with current terminal hardware, yet tap into expanded coverage and improved performance powered by Viasat’s next-gen system upgrades in orbit.

Flexible Architecture: The Role of Software-Defined Networking

Viasat’s investment in software-defined satellite technology creates a flexible architecture, transforming how satellite capacity is allocated. Rather than relying on static spot beams, the network dynamically aligns resources to demand patterns across air corridors, regions, and applications. Aircraft equipped with older GX terminals gain access to upgraded service quality without hardware changes—because the satellite itself flexes to meet their needs.

This kind of software-defined payload interaction supports a hybrid network model, where legacy systems and future technologies operate side by side. The result is greater continuity, network resiliency, and a sharper competitive edge for airlines leveraging Viasat’s emerging HEO capabilities.

Ensuring Seamless Service Transitions for Airlines

Transition Planning: A Prerequisite for Continuity

Airline operations demand uninterrupted connectivity—any disruption impacts passengers, crew, and operations alike. To accommodate this reality, Viasat has prioritized meticulous transition planning as HEO payloads prepare to support airlines operating legacy Global Xpress (GX) hardware. These early-stage strategies form the backbone of network integration across multiple satellite architectures.

Viasat’s integration roadmap addresses distinct service profiles, regional coverage hand-offs, and frequency plan alignment between its payloads and the existing GX infrastructure. By anticipating interoperability scenarios, the engineering teams eliminate single points of failure that could otherwise fragment service continuity mid-flight.

Zero Downtime: Delivering on the Promise

Network migrations rarely come without risk, but for aviation, the margin for error reduces to zero. Viasat’s design mitigates that risk. The HEO payloads have been configured to operate in parallel with GX hardware, enabling an in-place shift that requires no new equipment installation on the aircraft.

Aircraft can roam into HEO-supported coverage zones—from geostationary footprints—automatically, maintaining consistent throughput and latency characteristics. This live network flexibility means aircraft transition invisibly between GEO and HEO coverage without needing route adjustments or scheduling workarounds. Cabin internet, crew services, and cockpit communications all remain active and stable.

Backward Compatibility: Avoiding Fleetwide Hardware Overhauls

Backward compatibility dictates the success of any legacy integration initiative at fleet scale. Viasat’s HEO payloads were designed with existing GX terminal specifications in mind. They interface with installed avionics and antennas, preserving previous capital investments and removing the need for physical retrofits.

As a result, airlines migrating CX and passenger connectivity services do not need to plan for grounded days, spare parts logistics, or retraining. The transition becomes a software-defined upgrade—executed in the background yet delivering measurable improvements in coverage and resilience.

Expanding Reach: Delivering Connectivity Across Northern Latitudes

Commercial air routes over the Arctic and northern Canada continue to gain importance, yet traditional geostationary (GEO) satellites struggle to maintain effective coverage at these high latitudes. Their low elevation angles near the poles often obstruct the signal, disrupting service quality where demand is steadily increasing.

Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) payloads directly address this limitation. Unlike GEO satellites fixed above the equator, HEO satellites follow a stretched elliptical path, spending extended dwell times over northern regions. This orbital design ensures a sustained line-of-sight connection well beyond 65 degrees latitude, where standard GEO connectivity falters. Aircraft flying over parts of Alaska, Greenland, or the Northern Atlantic benefit from this uninterrupted visibility, regardless of atmospheric or topographic interference.

For airlines operating transpolar routes — such as those linking Asia with North America or Europe — consistent in-flight connectivity is no longer optional. Real-time operational data transfer, cockpit communications, passenger Wi-Fi, and live telemetry all rely on continuous broadband service throughout the journey. Integrating Viasat’s HEO payloads with existing infrastructure bridges the coverage gap, allowing legacy GX-equipped aircraft to remain connected across these remote corridors.

This expansion reshapes both coverage and business potential. Access to reliable bandwidth in northern airspace enables Viasat to tap into markets previously underserved, creating new value for aviation stakeholders operating in high-latitude regions.

With increased mobility in high-latitude skies and payloads optimized for performance in these zones, the HEO strategy transforms Arctic airspace into a viable channel for consistent, commercial-grade inflight internet.

Advantages for Airlines and the Wider Aviation Sector

Direct Gains for Airline Customers

Integrating Viasat's High Earth Orbit (HEO) payloads with legacy Global Xpress (GX) hardware reshapes the connectivity economics for airlines. Operators retain their current onboard GX infrastructure while tapping into expanded coverage and increased bandwidth. This compatibility dramatically reduces capital expenditure on hardware upgrades and accelerates the return on existing investments.

Operating continuity stands out as another clear advantage. Leveraging HEO payloads ensures that flights equipped with legacy GX systems won't experience service gaps or performance inconsistencies. Airlines avoid the complications tied to equipment change-outs, retraining, and regulatory re-certification. Maintenance windows shrink, and aircraft spend more time in the skies—generating revenue instead of sitting in hangars.

Looking ahead, airlines future-proof their fleets by joining a technology path that maintains backward compatibility while allowing for phased upgrades. As broadband demands rise from next-gen passenger services or operational data feeds, the combined GX and HEO ecosystem supports seamless scalability without stranded investments.

Accelerated Gains for Viasat and Connectivity Partners

By supporting customers with previous-generation GX terminals, Viasat shortens adoption cycles, extends footprint reach, and builds stronger long-term relationships. Service availability over legacy systems incentivizes a broader group of airlines—including those in remote or high-latitude geographies—to onboard with minimal friction.

This approach also enhances partner ecosystems. Distributors, value-added resellers, and integrators benefit from a unified sales and support narrative that doesn’t involve starting from scratch. Keeping legacy infrastructure relevant allows them to focus on delivering differentiated services, not technical overhauls.

Broader Implications for the Aviation Landscape

When better coverage and lower complexity unlock bandwidth at global scale, airlines can rethink operational priorities. Flights operating over polar or otherwise underserved routes remain constantly connected, enabling real-time data flows for fuel optimization, predictive maintenance, and route recalibration.

Crew communications evolve too—text, voice, and video channels can stay live across every phase of flight, dramatically improving both efficiency and safety. And with stable, resilient broadband, IoT-driven innovation becomes feasible in flight: from sensor-driven diagnostics to passenger personalization algorithms that adapt using live metadata.

Viasat’s support for legacy GX avionics offers more than technical continuity—it reshapes cost structures, accelerates digital transformation, and redefines aviation's networked future.

Pushing Boundaries: The Future of Aviation Connectivity with Viasat’s HEO Vision

Global coverage without compromise—that’s the core of Viasat’s long-term satellite strategy. With the integration of its high-energy orbit (HEO) payloads alongside existing infrastructure, Viasat commits to delivering broadband satellite internet to commercial aircraft no matter where they fly, especially in regions previously underserved by traditional geostationary satellites, such as far northern latitudes. This evolving footprint will allow aircraft with legacy GX terminals to benefit from the expanded HEO-based network, maintaining continuity while unlocking higher-capacity features as rollout progresses.

Upcoming Launches and Integration Timelines

The launch roadmaps are already in motion. Viasat’s HEO payloads are being prepared for early deployment on satellites optimized for polar and high-latitude coverage. These will interconnect with existing network architecture—including the GX heritage infrastructure—creating a multi-band, multi-network environment designed for seamless handover. Commercial service introductions are targeted following successful in-orbit testing and ground validation phases, with operational service expected within the next 18-24 months. This phased integration aligns with Viasat’s unified network vision post Inmarsat acquisition.

Legacy Support Meets Forward-Looking Flexibility

The inclusion of legacy GX hardware compatibility in Viasat’s HEO design unlocks long-term value for airlines that invested early in inflight connectivity. Airlines can avoid costly hardware swaps and still deliver next-generation passenger experiences. At the same time, Viasat’s network architecture allows for modular expansion—existing terminals can access higher-performance links as new satellites go live, while newer terminals gain full access to Viasat’s evolving Ka-band capabilities. This dual-tiered approach ensures legacy support doesn’t come at the cost of technological stagnation.

A Foundation for the Next Era of Satellite Communication

Viasat sets the direction for what’s next in aviation internet: a network that scales dynamically, supports low-latency applications, enables real-time operations, and connects every altitude and latitude. By pairing traditional geostationary platforms with agile HEO payloads—and enabling backward compatibility—Viasat positions itself to manage the complex connectivity demands of commercial aviation without disrupting current fleets. It’s not just about more coverage; it’s about tying every sky region to a unified digital backbone.