Aug 7 (Reuters) - Viasat ( VSAT ) raised its fiscal year

2025 revenue forecast on Wednesday, indicating a surge in demand

for the satellite communications company's connectivity

solutions from the aviation and defense markets.

The California-based company has benefited from a growing

need for constant connectivity and robust security solutions as

it offers in-flight connectivity and data encryption, among

other products, to enterprise and government customers.

Viasat ( VSAT ) now expect flat-to-slightly-up year-on-year revenue

growth for fiscal 2025, compared with its prior expectation of

roughly flat revenue growth.

It faces stiff competition in the satellite communications

market from major players such as Elon Musk's SpaceX, Intelsat,

L3Harris Technologies ( LHX ), and EchoStar ( SATS ).

Revenue for the first quarter rose 44%, to $1.13 billion

from a year earlier, compared with analysts' average estimate of

$1.08 billion.

The company, which counts the U.S. government among its

customers, said its first-quarter results were also boosted by

Inmarsat, which it acquired last year to broaden its satellite

and land-based communications services.

Viasat ( VSAT ) provides in-flight connectivity services to aviation

customers including Delta Air Lines ( DAL ), American Airlines ( AAL )

and United Airlines.

Its net loss narrowed to $33 million in the first quarter,

from a net loss of $77 million a year earlier.

Revenue from its communication services segment rose 48%, to

$826.8 million, while revenue for its defense and advanced

technologies segment, which provides solutions including

encryption and cybersecurity, increased 37%, to $299.7 million.