Inmarsat’s NexusWave to tap ViaSat-3 satellites from 2026, promising higher capacity, faster ship connectivity and new Intellian VS60 terminals.
Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, has announced the next phase in the evolution of its NexusWave bonded connectivity service, ahead of the commercial entry into service of the ViaSat-3 satellite constellation.
In a statement dated 1 December 2025, the company said capacity from the ViaSat-3 Flight 2 satellite, covering the Americas, and ViaSat-3 Flight 3, targeting the Asia-Pacific region, is expected to become available for maritime users from 2026. NexusWave customers who invest in the service now are promised a “major step forward” in performance, with more consistent speeds and greater flexibility as additional capacity comes online.
NexusWave is Inmarsat’s fully managed, multi-network solution that bonds capacity from GEO Ka-band, low Earth orbit (LEO), LTE and L-band networks into a single intelligent connectivity service. The integration of the ultra-high-capacity ViaSat-3 satellites is intended to enable higher data rates and improved network efficiency to support vessel digitalisation and crew welfare, with what the company describes as an “office-like” and “home-like” internet experience at sea.
A key hardware element of the upgrade is the new VS60 maritime terminal, engineered by Intellian and powered by Viasat software-defined radio technology. Designed specifically for the ViaSat-3 era, the VS60 has reportedly achieved download speeds exceeding 250 Mbps during recent sea trials. The terminal is aimed at bandwidth-intensive applications such as enterprise networking, video streaming, crew services and mission-critical operations, and incorporates multiple layers of protection for data security and operational integrity.
The ViaSat-3 satellites themselves feature more than 1,000 steerable spot beams, which are designed to move bandwidth dynamically in line with demand across global shipping lanes, ports and offshore areas.
Gert-Jan Panken, Vice President, Inmarsat Maritime, said the combination of NexusWave’s bonded, multi-orbit architecture and the ViaSat-3-ready VS60 terminal “puts us in a strong position to support the operational priorities of global fleets” and underlines the company’s commitment to reliability, security and customer experience at sea.
Ben Palmer OBE, President, Viasat Commercial, added that as ViaSat-3 capacity becomes available, NexusWave will offer more bandwidth, greater flexibility and a clear upgrade path “to ensure connected confidence for the future.”
The company cautioned that the plans and performance expectations described are forward-looking statements subject to technical, operational and market risks, including satellite construction, launch and in-orbit performance, access to third-party capacity, and broader conditions in the maritime sector.
