The companies are seeking to help overcome the challenge that businesses situated in hard-to-reach areas of the country without terrestrial internet are often left behind, a factor that has been accentuated as businesses have increasingly turned to digital tools such as instant messaging apps during the pandemic.
At present, Viasat uses bandwidth from the Telebras SGDC-1 satellite for its satellite internet service, but plans to add to this with the ViaSat-3 next-generation satellite constellation – with the first of three satellites for the Americas due to launch in 2022, and further driving higher speeds and data across Brazil.
On the deal with Viasat, Gustavo Arditti, director of the satellite business at TGS, said: “Our goal is to empower our customers’ businesses by connecting them to the world through innovative broadband solutions.” He added that the partnership will help to drive “transformational change” in the Brazilian B2B and wholesale sector.
“Our experience will be essential when adapting the Viasat solution to provide corporate, B2B and cellular backhaul services, and help fuel adoption of critical business applications in Brazil’s hardest-to-connect areas,” said Arditti.
Leandro Gaunszer (pictured), managing director of Viasat Brazil, said: “As part of our commitment to Brazil, we continue to expand our service offerings and sign new distribution agreements to better serve and reach more people across the country. By working with TGS, we can reach more locations, target a more diverse customer base and provide a way to bring digital inclusion to more businesses nationwide.”
