Viasat unveils HaloNet capability portfolio for near-Earth communications
Questions and answers:
What is HaloNet? HaloNet is Viasat’s new modular portfolio of space-to-ground connectivity and relay capabilities designed to unify space and terrestrial communications.
Who are the target users of HaloNet? The portfolio is aimed at government and commercial operators in low and medium Earth orbit who need reliable, secure, and flexible data transport.
What capabilities does HaloNet include? It includes telemetry, tracking, and command data relay, launch telemetry relay, high-capacity data relay, direct-to-Earth services, and mobile command and control.
CARLSBAD, Calif., - Viasat Inc., a satellite communications company in Carlsbad, Calif., unveiled its HaloNet portfolio, a modular set of capabilities with a next-generation connectivity architecture that unifies space and terrestrial communications into a cohesive service offering. Developed across global teams within Viasat Government and the Defense and Advanced Technologies segment, HaloNet is designed for near-Earth communications with flexible, multi-orbit network and data services that can be tailored to a customer’s mission requirements.
Viasat said today’s emerging government and commercial low Earth orbit operators need an agile, reliable, and secure communications infrastructure that can quickly transport data while maintaining continuous contact with spacecraft for command and control.
Connectivity
HaloNet is designed to provide simultaneous connectivity to thousands of space vehicles across all orbital inclinations, including polar and retrograde orbits, at any latitude. It supports missions in low Earth orbit up to 1,100 kilometers and medium Earth orbit. The portfolio offers multi-band GEO relay and direct-to-Earth satellite communications services for a wide range of missions.
Craig Miller, president of Viasat Government, said, “Our HaloNet portfolio enables us to continue meeting evolving near-Earth mission communications needs, as well as government customers’ capability requirements for critical scientific and defense missions.”
HaloNet combines space and ground capabilities to deliver unified command, control, and data dissemination. Its offerings include:
-
Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Data Relay Service, providing real-time situational awareness through secure, low-latency L-band links.
-
Launch Telemetry DRS, offering telemetry relay during launch without dedicated downrange stations.
-
High-Capacity DRS, enabling on-demand transmission of large volumes of data via Ka-band.
-
Direct-to-Earth service through Viasat’s Ground Station as a Service platform across six continents.
-
Mobile Command & Control, a field-deployable satellite gateway.
Based on mission requirements, HaloNet uses GEO relay satellites and L-band, Ka-band, or optical links, supporting data rates from tens of kilobits per second to over 10 gigabits per second. Its global DTE ground antennas add resilience, making the portfolio a flexible solution for diverse mission needs.
