HARMAN and Viasat Collaborate to Enable In-Cabin Voice Calls Over Satellite Communications

BARCELONA, Spain--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 2, 2026--

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260301998566/en/

By combining HARMAN’s award‑winning Ready Connect TCU product and Viasat’s proven Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) satellite constellation, the collaboration unlocks a new level of reliable, resilient, ubiquitous connectivity. The SatCom-based voice calling feature facilitates essential communication where low data rate, safety-relevant connectivity is required. Augmenting rather than replacing terrestrial (cellular) connectivity, satellite networks can provide dependable communication in areas with intermittent cellular coverage to enhance safety, support emergency response and maintain continuous connectivity on the road, especially areas beyond the reach of terrestrial networks.

Reliable voice calling, anywhere

Many journeys and commutes span regions with limited cellular network coverage, preventing access to essential services such as emergency assistance or vehicle recovery. For drivers and passengers, lack of cellular coverage can be critical to safety. Aiming to connect the unconnected, HARMAN and Viasat enable voice communication, supporting vehicle users in reaching critical services when it matters most.

The new voice-calling capability leverages HARMAN’s Ready Connect TCU, which supports 4G, 5G and Narrowband Non-Terrestrial Network (NB-NTN) satellite connectivity using the same base solution. Viasat, acting as the Satellite Network Operator (SNO), provides access to its highly reliable satellite network and licensed global spectrum rights, ensuring a high-quality, reliable service backed by decades of operational experience.

Satellite voice calling ensures that drivers and passengers can reliably contact and speak with safety critical services or roadside assistance in areas with limited or no cellular connectivity to provide crucial details in the event of an incident, injury or stranded vehicle. The capability also supports personal calls to update family or friends during unexpected or emergency situations.

Trusted expertise for OEMs

This collaboration centres on enabling baseline voice services over satellite, underpinned by Viasat’s satellite network and HARMAN’s deep heritage in delivering robust, road-ready automotive connectivity. Together, the companies aim to strengthen automotive OEM confidence in emerging SatCom capabilities as a long-term complement to terrestrial networks.

“HARMAN’s MWC showcase underscores our commitment to advancing non-terrestrial network integration and working with ecosystem partners to bring next-generation connected experiences to market. Through our collaboration with Viasat, HARMAN Ready Connect demonstrates how its satellite-enabled architecture, which supports the 3GPP NB-NTN standard, can extend communication beyond traditional terrestrial networks. This includes enabling voice services that facilitate immediate safety and emergency assist applications,” said Dhanaji Khade, Vice President, Ready Connect Business Lead at HARMAN. “Working alongside innovators such as Viasat and building on our legacy of in-cabin innovation, decades of automotive expertise and significant investment in engineering and state-of-the-art technologies, HARMAN is uniquely positioned to deliver transformative in-vehicle products and solutions that elevate safety, productivity and entertainment, even in challenging environments.”

“Satellite connectivity has arrived for the automotive industry,” Sandeep Moorthy, Senior Vice President, Advanced Non-Terrestrial Services at Viasat. “Through our collaboration with HARMAN, vehicles can now connect directly to our satellite network. That means major benefits for drivers all around the world; not only to stay safe when they’re outside of cell coverage, but to access the range of applications that space technology can bring.”

Beyond voice calling: a roadmap to broadband SatCom

Alongside voice calling, the collaboration supports messaging, emergency SOS features and low-data-rate telematics use cases through NB‑NTN SatCom and Ready Connect. This includes benefits like remote vehicle operation, stolen vehicle tracking and remote vehicle diagnostics. These capabilities reinforce HARMAN’s mission to deliver resilient, vehicle‑integrated connectivity experiences that meet evolving OEM and driver expectations.

Looking ahead, the HARMAN and Viasat partnership includes a roadmap to broadband SatCom services enabled by Viasat. This advancement has the potential to unlock additional in‑cabin media services, streaming and high‑bandwidth connectivity—strengthening the future of the software‑defined, always‑connected vehicle.

Built to scale and shipping now

Ready Connect builds on HARMAN’s legacy of innovation and reflects its commitment to road-ready products that deliver intelligent and meaningful in-vehicle experiences. Leveraging Qualcomm’s Snapdragon® Modem‑RF Gen 2 system, Ready Connect provides unparalleled connectivity performance, while maximising upgradability, scalability and usability to meet the evolving requirements of today’s automotive market.

HARMAN’s suite of Ready products are trusted by OEMs globally and are available now for integration, helping automakers reduce complexity, accelerate hardware and software cycles, lower lifecycle costs and deliver rapid, consumer‑focused innovation across evolving vehicle platforms.

Experience Ready Connect at MWC Barcelona 2026

Experience Ready Connect and HARMAN’s newest products firsthand at MWC Barcelona 2026 (Fira Gran Via, Hall 2 – Stand #2D51).

For more information on HARMAN Ready Connect, visit: https://car.harman.com/experiences/ready-connect

ABOUT HARMAN

HARMANis a global leader in Lifestyle Audio and Automotive technology. We create intelligent experiences that enrich people’s lives on the road, in their homes, on the stage, and everywhere in between. Our iconic audio brands — including JBL®, Harman Kardon®, AKG®, Bowers & Wilkins®, Denon®, and Marantz® — bring premium sound to consumers and audio/visual professionals worldwide. More than 50 million vehicles globally rely on HARMAN’s technologies to deliver safer, smarter, and more intuitive in-cabin experiences. A wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., HARMAN has approximately 26,000 employees around the world.

HARMAN and Viasat Collaborate to Enable In-Cabin Voice Calls Over Satellite Communications

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't scoring the way he usually does, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are still winning the way they normally do.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, averaged 31.1 points during the regular season. In the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers, he is averaging 20 points and taking only 14 shots per game.

Oklahoma City has still won the first two games by an average of 18 points. Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren each scored 22 points, and the defending champion Thunder beat the Lakers 125-107 on Thursday night.

Ajay Mitchell, starting in place of injured Jalen Williams, is averaging 19 points on 50% shooting in the series for Oklahoma City.

“I think the coaching staff does a good job at just getting all of us ready,” said Mitchell, a second-year guard. "And we have a lot of competitors. Like, everyone’s a competitor on our team. So every time the lights are bright, everyone’s ready to go.”

Holmgren is the leading scorer for the Thunder in the best-of-seven series with 23 points per game. The 2026 All-Star also is averaging 10.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.

Jared McCain, a midseason acquisition from the Philadelphia 76ers, barely played in the first round against Phoenix but has averaged 15 points and made 8 of 10 3-pointers in the series.

“He goes in there, stays in character, stays aggressive," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "He’s going to shoot the next shot. He makes the right plays, plays inside the team. He competes defensively, has had good defensive possessions for us. And he was huge tonight. You need that in a playoff series.”

The Lakers again were without scoring champion Luka Doncic, who is out indefinitely with a strained left hamstring. They also were missing forward Jarred Vanderbilt, the reserve forward who dislocated the pinkie on his right hand during the second quarter of Game 1. The Lakers had three players finish with five fouls, limiting their aggressiveness late in the game.

Los Angeles guard Austin Reaves, who struggled with his shot in Game 1, scored 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting in Game 2. LeBron James, coming off a 27-point effort in Game 1, followed that up with 23.

With the Lakers up 63-61 early in the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander got tied up with Reaves and was called for his fourth foul. Upon review, it was upgraded to a flagrant 1 for Gilgeous-Alexander's follow through. Oklahoma City's Alex Caruso was called for a technical foul as the situation was being sorted out.

Gilgeous-Alexander left the game with the Lakers up 65-61, but the Thunder rallied and took control without him. On a fast break, Holmgren found a trailing Jaylin Williams, who hit a 3-pointer and was fouled. His free throw put the Thunder up 85-74.

The Thunder outscored the Lakers 32-15 while Gilgeous-Alexander was out in the third quarter to take a 93-80 lead into the fourth.

“It was amazing," Gilgeous-Alexander said. “They strung together stops, they’re playing the right way offensively and things are going their way. Full confidence in those guys. They know how to win basketball games. And we've proven that. They’ve proven that no matter who’s on the floor, they know how to get the job done. And they just did it again tonight."

The Lakers cut Oklahoma City's lead to five in the fourth quarter before the Thunder pulled away again.

Los Angeles will host Game 3 on Saturday.

“We just stuck with it,” Holmgren said. “It’s the game of basketball. It’s not always going to go your way. It’s about how you respond. And this team has proven many times that we know how to respond. And we did so tonight.”

This story has been corrected to show that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 20, not 19, points per game against the Lakers.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren (7) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves (15) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell, front, works for a shot as Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves, rear, defends in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James stands on the court in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket past Los Angeles Lakers' Deandre Ayton (5) and LeBron James, rear, in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) works to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)