Vroon Extends 140-plus Vessel Contract for KVH mini-VSAT Broadband Solution

Successful five-year contract for VSAT broadband connectivity is extended, and more vessels to be provided with KVH’s IP-MobileCast content delivery service and KVH OneCare services


MIDDLETOWN, R.I., Dec. 14, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq:KVHI), has announced that Netherlands-based Vroon has extended its contract for KVH’s maritime satellite communications solution, choosing the mini-VSAT Broadbandsm network for connectivity services onboard more than 140 Vroon vessels.

“In working with KVH during the past five years, we realized that having a reliable communications partner is essential to the smooth operation of our vessels and welfare of our crews,” says Rob Frenks, Vroon’s group ICT manager. “We also witnessed firsthand the advantage of the IP-MobileCast entertainment packages in enhancing crew welfare. KVH offers us a total and affordable managed service that brings together proven hardware and a fully integrated global network management system that will support our business for years to come.”

The multi-year contract also includes KVH’s IP-MobileCastTM service for news, sports, movie, and TV delivery, and preventive maintenance checks to ensure peak performance on all fielded systems as part of the KVH OneCareTM program.

“We are extremely pleased that Vroon has chosen to extend its contract with KVH, as it demonstrates the importance they place on affordable and reliable broadband connectivity for their vessels, as well as their high regard for improving crew welfare,” says David Tropp Hag, KVH’s director of sales for the EMEA region. “The contract extension also includes support for all TracPhone systems through eight years of operation, a testament to KVH’s outstanding design and rugged construction which, in this challenging business environment, is something that Vroon continues to value highly.”

The first installations of KVH’s 60 cm diameter TracPhone® V7 systems onboard Vroon vessels took place in early 2011, after Vroon conducted a stringent selection process involving 22 different satellite communications providers. Today, more than 140 Vroon vessels employ the KVH mini-VSAT Broadband system onboard. In addition, Vroon was one of the first subscribers to KVH’s IP-MobileCast entertainment packages, providing crew members onboard tankers and livestock carriers daily updates of news and sports content, as well as new selections of popular movies and TV episodes.

The Vroon vessels covered by the contract are also equipped with the KVH CommBoxTM Ship/Shore Network Manager. CommBox provides a suite of network management tools including web compression and acceleration, least-cost routing among multiple communications services, prepaid Internet access, and remote access for Vroon’s shore-based IT personnel.

“Our mini-VSAT Broadband service provides the most complete end-to-end solution for the maritime market’s rapidly expanding communications needs,” says Martin Kits van Heyningen, KVH’s CEO. “We design and manufacture the hardware, provide the global connectivity and network management solution, offer a flexible variety of customer support options, and license and deliver a wide variety of onboard content, all in an affordable way. Vroon clearly sees the value of this comprehensive solution, and we look forward to continuing to work with them as one of our key customers.”

Note to Editors: For more information about KVH’s complete maritime satellite communications solution, the “Power of OneTM,” visit the mini-VSAT Broadband website, www.minivsat.com/one. High-resolution images of KVH products are available at the KVH Press Room Image Library, www.kvh.com/press-room/image-library.

About Vroon
Vroon, an international leader in seagoing transportation services and engineering and support solutions, is based in the Netherlands and operates a global fleet of more than 200 vessels. Vroon is active in business segments including livestock carriers; offshore-support vessels; offshore installation, maintenance, and engineering services; dry-cargo vessels; container vessels; product/chemical tankers; asphalt/bitumen tankers; car carriers; and vessel-management services.

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 200,000 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 market-leading provider of training films, computer-based training, and eLearning. 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, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, 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 expected expansion of our IP-MobileCast service to additional Vroon vessels and the services to be provided under the agreement with Vroon. 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 future decisions by Vroon not to expand purchases of our products and services, the potential sale or scrapping by Vroon of vessels subscribing to our services, which could reduce the level of services provided to Vroon, and potential future amendments to the terms of the agreement with Vroon. These and other factors are discussed in more detail in KVH’s most recent Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. KVH does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect new information and developments.

KVH, IP-MobileCast, KVH OneCare, TracPhone, CommBox, Power of One, 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.


            

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