Viasat Wins $252M Contract to Expand SouthPAN Satellite Services

Viasat Inc. has secured a A$252 million contract from Geoscience Australia and Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand to expand satellite services for the Southern Positioning Augmentation Network (SouthPAN), a system jointly developed by Australia and New Zealand. This contract builds on an earlier May 2023 award initially granted to Inmarsat before its merger with Viasat and includes continuing services from existing satellites as well as the addition of a new satellite payload. SouthPAN provides highly precise positioning and navigation services across sectors such as aviation, maritime, agriculture, surveying, and emergency response, covering Australia, New Zealand, and their maritime zones. The expanded services aim to improve efficiency and innovation in industries requiring centimeter-level positioning accuracy by delivering reliable satellite service and ground infrastructure. Geoscience Australia’s CEO Melissa Harris emphasized that the system enables free, accurate, and timely services for a wide range of users, from farms to freight operators. This extension of Viasat’s role strengthens its footprint in the high-precision positioning and navigation market across Oceania and underscores the importance of government contracts for its recurring revenue and service diversification.