SES vs Viasat: Communications constellations compared

November 2026 edition · assessment by Frontier Tech Intelligence

SES ranks 39 on the Space 100 with a score of 77; Viasat ranks 49 with 74. SES is ahead on positioning and leverage. Viasat is ahead on deployment and commercials. Level on production, progress, technology and firepower. SES is based in Betzdorf, Luxembourg, Viasat in Carlsbad, United States. SES: Established. Viasat: Established. SES is named in 75 signals and Viasat in 38.

SES →

Betzdorf, Luxembourg · Space · Satellites & spacecraft / Communications constellations · Established · ses.com

SES operates GEO and MEO satellite networks, including O3b mPOWER, and sells connectivity to broadband, direct-to-device, maritime, government, defense and media customers.

Space 100 · rank 39 · score 77

Scores, Space (of 10)

Deployment9
Production6
Commercials8
Progress9
Technology6
Positioning8
Firepower8
Leverage8

Darker bar: ahead of the other company on that measure.

Positioning

SES is a Luxembourg multi-orbit satellite operator (>EUR 3.5B class after completing its Intelsat acquisition in 2025) running a GEO fleet plus the O3b mPOWER MEO constellation, the consolidation move of the operator sector with Intelsat integration underway. K2 Space is building an initial 30-satellite MEO network for it, and it partners with Eutelsat OneWeb on airline multi-orbit deals. Current figures are verified-light this pass (a dedicated results pass owed).

Latest signals

  • SES and CANAL+ extended their strategic partnership through 2040.Satellite Evolution
  • ESA is developing the €15.6 billion Iris2 secure connectivity constellation with Aerospacelab and SES.Space Intel Report
  • SES selected Lyntris as payload integrator for its PTS-G satellite work.Via Satellite

75 signals name SES.

Facts, with sources

  • Astrium Mobile Neastar-1 L-band direct-to-device satellite mission planned for completionSpaceNews
  • Sixth HummingSat order for the Intelsat 45 missionSpaceNews
  • Intelsat-45 Ku-band FSS and BSS satellite mission planned for completionSpaceNews

110 facts on file.

Viasat →

Carlsbad, California, United States · Space · Satellites & spacecraft / Communications constellations · Established · viasat.com

Viasat operates satellite communications networks, including ViaSat-3, and sells broadband, in-flight, maritime, government and direct-to-device connectivity services.

Space 100 · rank 49 · score 74

Scores, Space (of 10)

Deployment10
Production6
Commercials10
Progress9
Technology6
Positioning6
Firepower8
Leverage6

Darker bar: ahead of the other company on that measure.

Positioning

Viasat is a US satellite-communications company (FY26 record revenue of $4.64B, +2.7%; awards $4.9B) with all three ViaSat-3 satellites launched, though its F1 flagship operates at under 10% of design capacity after an antenna anomaly. It has 4,450 commercial aircraft in-flight-connectivity systems in service (+10%, a 1,000-aircraft backlog) and 1,315 NexusWave vessels, though its maritime business did not turn the corner per the CFO. Its forward story is the Equatys D2D shared-spectrum venture with Space42 (up to 2,800 satellites, Viasat as initial technology prime).

Latest signals

  • SES selected Lyntris as payload integrator for its PTS-G satellite work.Via Satellite
  • Viasat ordered multiple ALL.SPACE Hydra MAX terminals for resilient multi-orbit satellite communications.Satellite Evolution
  • Viasat awarded $42 million task order for Marine Corps managed satcom servicesVia Satellite

38 signals name Viasat.

Facts, with sources

  • Space Compass SC-A commercial optical data relay mission planned for completionSpaceNews
  • Inmarsat-8 L-band safety communications and SBAS navigation mission planned for completionSpaceNews
  • Sixth HummingSat order; platform scheduled for on-orbit debut on the Intelsat 45 missionSpaceNews

60 facts on file.

More comparisons

Questions this page answers

SES or Viasat: which is ahead in space?

SES ranks 39 on the Space 100 with a score of 77; Viasat ranks 49 with 74. SES is ahead on positioning and leverage. Viasat is ahead on deployment and commercials. Level on production, progress, technology and firepower. SES is based in Betzdorf, Luxembourg, Viasat in Carlsbad, United States. SES: Established. Viasat: Established. SES is named in 75 signals and Viasat in 38.

How do SES and Viasat compare?

SES ranks 39 on the Space 100 with a score of 77; Viasat ranks 49 with 74. SES is ahead on positioning and leverage. Viasat is ahead on deployment and commercials. Level on production, progress, technology and firepower. SES is based in Betzdorf, Luxembourg, Viasat in Carlsbad, United States. SES: Established. Viasat: Established. SES is named in 75 signals and Viasat in 38. Both company files carry the scores on eight measures, the facts with sources and the latest signals.

Every comparison here comes from the same files members use every day.

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