KVH More Than Doubles mini-VSAT Broadband Network Capacity in Asia-Pacific Region

July 29, 2013

Continuing the network expansion strategy outlined with the announcement of its new TracPhone® V-IP series satellite communications systems and IP-MobileCast™ service (expected to be available later this year), KVH Industries, Inc., (NASDAQ: KVHI) has more than doubled the capacity of its mini-VSAT Broadband network in the Asia-Pacific region. The ongoing global network upgrade involves deployment of Variable Coding, Spreading, and Modulation (VCSM) technology provided by ViaSat, Inc., KVH’s partner in the mini-VSAT Broadband network. This is the fourth major capacity increase in less than eight months, following upgrades in the Caribbean, EMEA, and African and Brazilian regions that began in late 2012.

“Increasing mini-VSAT Broadband network capacity in the Asia-Pacific region is a key step in our strategy to provide mariners with the connectivity they need at sea,” explains Brent Bruun, Executive Vice President of KVH’s Mobile Broadband Group. “This area is a major hub for commercial shipping and the vessels travelling there need affordable, fast, and convenient connections in order to optimize their operations. The mini-VSAT Broadband network, particularly with the new TracPhone V-IP series terminals and upcoming IP-MobileCast service, provides those connections at an affordable price combined with a number of benefits that other providers do not offer.”

KVH recently announced a four-part strategy for the mini-VSAT Broadband network, which is designed to bring a variety of economical and convenient content services to mariners for the first time. It involves deployment of VCSM technology to significantly increase effective network capacity, upgrading the TracPhone® terminals used to deliver the mini-VSAT Broadband service, creating a first-of-its-kind content delivery service, and building alliances with application providers to deliver a variety of high-quality content via that service.

“There is no denying the importance of the Asia-Pacific region to the international shipping industry,” said Mr. Bruun. “KVH’s solutions provide outstanding communications for the mariners who frequent these waters, with downloads as fast as 4 Mbps and uploads as fast as 1 Mbps, as well as crystal clear Voice over IP (VoIP) telephone lines with optimized service and prioritization of applications. Expanding network capacity and offering new services like IP-MobileCast will help these mariners to improve onboard efficiency as well as crew morale.”

With more than 3,000 onboard terminals sold, mini-VSAT Broadband service is the world’s fastest growing, most popular maritime VSAT solution, according to three independent industry research reports published in 2012 by Euroconsult, NSR, and Comsys.