Jason Smith, president of global operations at Viasat and the head of the London headquarters, said the new office contributes to the company's mission of driving growth in the satellite communications industry. With the center of excellence, Viasat will boost collaboration with partners to advance the deployment of internet of things solutions and direct-to-device services, which enable customers to connect devices with a satellite without any hardware configuration to maintain communications capabilities in areas beyond the reach of terrestrial networks. According to Andrew Griffith, U.K. minister for space, the office will play a significant role in expanding connectivity, providing new jobs and growing the economy. He said the establishment of the center of excellence in the United Kingdom strengthens the country's position as a global space hub.