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Viasat (VSAT) to Install In-Flight Connectivity for Korean Air

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Viasat, Inc. (VSAT - Free Report) recently announced that Korean Air has opted to deploy Viasat’s In-Flight connectivity (IFC) solutions for its upcoming fleet of 40 Boeing 787s. Leveraging VSAT's robust satellite network, South Korea’s flag carrier aims to match the growing demand for high-speed, uninterrupted Wi-Fi on board.

In today's digital world, individuals increasingly rely on staying connected to the Internet for both personal and professional reasons. Access to in-flight connectivity enables passengers to stay connected with their work, allowing them to respond to emails, attend virtual meetings, or work on projects while in transit. With Internet access, passengers can stream movies, TV shows and music all from the comfort of their seats. These options are particularly appealing for long-duration flights.

Viasat’s 2023 Passenger Experience Survey also indicates that the likelihood of rebooking a flight increases significantly if the airline has reliable in-flight Wi-Fi. Airlines that invest in this technology gain a competitive advantage by enhancing the convenience, enjoyment and productivity of their passengers' journeys.

Recognizing this emerging trend, Korean Air inked a deal with VSAT to install connectivity in its fleet of 30 Airbus A321Neos in 2023. Following the recent venture, the total number of Korean Air airplanes to be equipped with VSAT IFC kit increases to 70, with all the aircraft set to enter service in 2027.

The South Korean national carrier is one of the world’s top 20 airlines. A successful collaboration will serve as a testament to Viasat's technological prowess. It is expected to have a positive impact on net sales in the Viasat satellite services segment. Moreover, the strategic partnership also will strengthen VSAT’s foothold in the Asian Aviation market and enhance commercial opportunities in the region.

Viasat’s Satellite Services business is progressing well with key metrics, including ARPU (average revenue per user) and revenues, showing impressive growth. ARPU is growing on the back of a solid retail distribution network, which accounts for a rising proportion of high-value and high bandwidth subscriber base.

Furthermore, the growing adoption of in-flight Wi-Fi services in commercial aircraft is proving conducive to business growth. Viasat’s impressive bandwidth productivity sets it apart from conventional and lower-yield satellite providers that run on incumbent business models. Viasat has a competitive advantage in bandwidth economics, global coverage, flexibility and bandwidth allocation, which makes it believe that mobile broadband will act as a profit churner with a significant improvement in IFC revenues.

The stock has lost 46.9% over the past year against the industry's rise of 18.2%.

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Viasat currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

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NVIDIA is the worldwide leader in visual computing technologies and the inventor of the graphic processing unit. Over the years, the company’s focus evolved from PC graphics to AI-based solutions that support high-performance computing, gaming and virtual reality platforms.

Pinterest (PINS - Free Report) , carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present, delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 37.42%. In the last reported quarter, it delivered an earnings surprise of 3.92%.

Pinterest is increasingly establishing a unique value proposition to advertisers that could provide a competitive advantage in the long haul. Through various innovations, it continues to dramatically improve the advertising platform, which appears to be one of the best ad platforms for consumer discretionary brands looking for ways to reach customers and stretch smaller ad budgets.

Workday Inc. (WDAY - Free Report) , carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, delivered an earnings surprise of 9.03% in the last reported quarter.

Workday is a provider of enterprise-level software solutions for financial management and human resource domains. The company’s cloud-based platform combines finance and HR in a single system that makes it easier for organizations to provide analytical insights and decision support.


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