MIDDLETOWN, R.I., Nov. 6, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq:KVHI) is announcing major capacity increases for its mini-VSAT Broadbandsm network at the OilComm conference in Houston, TX, today. The capacity upgrades on key South American beams have resulted in as much as three times the forward and return link capacity for KVH's maritime VSAT customers in the area.
One upgrade has boosted coverage and performance for several key markets in Brazil: the oil and gas industry, whose major production and exploration activities are centered offshore; tugboat and push boat traffic along the Amazon River, transporting everything from oil barges to fish, cattle, and more; and the growing international tourism industry along the Amazon River. An additional upgrade has boosted coverage and performance for markets in other parts of South America, including: the salmon fishing industry in southern Chile; global merchant vessels in major ports on the Pacific coast of South America; and the mining industry throughout the continent.
"Increased merchant activity in South America is dependent on satellite communications to optimize operational efficiency and also help vessels increase their safety and security by means of connectivity from remote locations," says Brent Bruun, executive vice president of KVH's Mobile Broadband Group. "With mini-VSAT Broadband coverage addressing offshore waters and major rivers inland, such as the Amazon and the Parana, vessels now have a safer, more secure way to transport people, equipment, and finished goods within this large continent."
KVH's mini-VSAT Broadband network is the dominant player in the global maritime VSAT market, with twice the market share of its closest competitor, according to a 2014 industry report by Euroconsult. KVH and its technology partner, ViaSat, Inc., (Nasdaq:VSAT), use ArcLight® spread spectrum technology to deliver fast broadband service, with Internet download speeds up to 4 Mbps.
The mini-VSAT Broadband network covers 100% of the global maritime market through a combination of 19 Ku-band transponders and three C-band beams. KVH has built this global infrastructure by leasing available commercial satellite capacity, rather than investing in its own satellites, leading to lower costs and better prices for customers. Designed exclusively for the mini-VSAT Broadband network, KVH's unique TracPhone® V-IP satellite communications antenna systems are built 85% smaller than typical VSAT antennas to install more easily in all vessels. Antenna sizes range from the 37 cm (14.5 inch) diameter TracPhone V3-IP, to the 60 cm (24 inch) diameter TracPhone V7-IP, and the 1.1 meter (42.5 inch) diameter TracPhone V11-IP.
The expansion of the mini-VSAT Broadband network in South America follows network upgrades in other parts of the globe and supports KVH's recently introduced IP-MobileCastTM content delivery service. This multicasting service uses the mini-VSAT Broadband network already streaming into more than 4,000 onboard terminals worldwide to deliver a separate data stream of commercially licensed news, sports, entertainment, and training content – improving quality of life for crews aboard commercial vessels – as well as operational data such as electronic chart updates and weather information.
KVH is continually improving and enhancing the mini-VSAT Broadband network, and has a coverage expansion planned for Canada in the coming weeks.
Note to Editors: For more information about KVH's mini-VSAT Broadband network, please visit the KVH website, www.minivsat.com/vip. High-resolution images of KVH products and coverage maps are available at the KVH Press Room Image Library (www.kvh.com/press-room/image-library).
About KVH Industries, Inc.
KVH Industries is a leading provider of in-motion satellite TV and communications systems, having designed, manufactured, and sold more than 175,000 mobile satellite antennas for applications on vessels, vehicles, and aircraft. KVH is also a leading news, music, and entertainment content provider to many industries including maritime, retail, and leisure. VideotelTM, a KVH company, is a leading provider of maritime training. KVH is based in Middletown, RI, with research, development, and manufacturing operations in Middletown, RI, and Tinley Park, IL. The company's global presence includes offices in Belgium, Brazil, Cyprus, Denmark, Hong Kong, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. For example, forward-looking statements include statements regarding the timing and occurrence of new service rollout plans; the functionality, characteristics, quality, and performance of KVH services and technology; and customer demand, preferences, requirements, and expectations. The actual results we achieve could differ materially from the statements made in this press release. Factors that might cause these differences include, but are not limited to: potential unanticipated technical or legal impediments that could delay or impede new service rollout plans or expected strategic relationships; the impact of extended economic turmoil and high fuel prices on the sale and use of marine vessels; the need for, or delays in, qualification of products to customer or regulatory standards; unanticipated declines or changes in customer demand, due to competitive, economic, seasonal, and other factors, particularly with respect to the TracPhone V-IP series products and the mini-VSAT Broadband service; and unanticipated increases in media costs or loss of distribution rights. These and other factors are discussed in more detail in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. We do not assume any obligation to update our forward-looking statements to reflect new information and developments.
KVH, TracPhone, IP-MobileCast, and Videotel are trademarks of KVH Industries, Inc. mini-VSAT Broadband is a service mark of KVH Industries, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.