Managed Communications News

RigNet, Inc. announced that it has reached a settlement with Inmarsat Global Limited that concludes the GX Arbitration pending before the International Center for Dispute Resolution. Pursuant to the settlement, RigNet will pay Inmarsat $45 million immediately, $5 million in the third quarter of 2019, and $750,000 in the third quarter of 2020.“We are glad to put this matter behind us. While we are disappointed in the panel’s Phase I findings that a take or pay obligation under our January 2014 agreement had commenced, we believe that settling this matter reduces risk for our shareholders, customers, and employees. We were able avoid additional costs related to the arbitration and to secure value for our counterclaims which offsets Inmarsat’s additional claims…

Harris CapRock Communications, a provider of managed communications services for remote and harsh environments, has launched SafePass Pro, an advanced cyber security solution for proactive defense against cyberattacks targeting oil and gas IT infrastructures. The solution is also available for cruise, maritime and other commercial customers. Industry experts estimate cyber attacks against the global energy industry will cost businesses up to $1.9 billion by 2018. SafePass Pro improves network resources, minimizes malware and spyware, enables centralized control across all sites, enforces acceptable use and security policies (AUP), and provides an opportunity to assess and eliminate network vulnerabilities.

Intellian, a global leader in satellite communication antenna systems, has been successfully selected as the hardware partner on RigNet’s recently announced contract to provide remote communications solutions to a premium offshore driller across its entire global fleet of existing and newbuild rigs. RigNet, a leading global provider of remote managed communications solutions, telecoms systems integration services and collaborative applications to the oil and gas industry, will provide comprehensive solutions across the customer’s fleet of jackups, drillships and semisubmersibles operating in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Asia Pacific, Europe and Africa regions.

Harris CapRock has completed fleet installation of its managed communications solutions onboard 33 Royal Caribbean Cruise vessels. Since the start of the project, the company has removed 48 legacy antennas, installed 86 new ones in ports all around the world and procured more than 59,000 individual components for the project. Harris CapRock has developed a new “card-less” crew-calling kiosk and voice platform which the Royal Caribbean crew has used to make more than three million calls totalling more than 24 million minutes to date. •    New systems significantly improve voice, video and data services. •    Solution includes 24/7 proactive monitoring and support from Harris CapRock’s global Customer Support Centers.

RigNet wins 6-year contract from major contractor for managed remote communications services on an ultra-deepwater drill rig. "It is a pleasure to bring the Brazilian oil and gas market high-quality, leading managed communications services," said Mauricio Rubinsztajn, RigNet's Brazil General Manager. Through VSAT technology solutions, RigNet is able to meet two priorities for the oil and gas community: high-performance and security. The demands on reliable offshore and onshore communication systems require dependable and efficient support around the clock. RigNet's Network Operation Center provides 24/7 network monitoring and can dispatch local field technicians when required.

Intelsat S.A., the world's leading provider of satellite services, today announced that Harris CapRock Communications, a global provider of fully managed communications for remote and harsh environments, will utilize the Intelsat EpicNG platform on Intelsat 29e for advanced fixed and mobile services. Under a multi-year agreement, Harris CapRock will utilize the next- generation Intelsat EpicNG platform to expand its service offerings and offer new applications to its global customers across the energy, maritime and government markets. Harris CapRock currently has Ku-band capacity on multiple satellites on the Intelsat fleet, which will expand to Intelsat 29e when it is launched.

RigNet has signed a two-year contract extension to continue delivering managed communications for two world-class semi-submersible offshore drilling rigs: Transocean Barents and Transocean Spitsbergen, both operating in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. A high-performance and secure network is a high priority for the oil and gas community, ensuring effective and reliable communications, both offshore and onshore, and access to business-critical IT applications. As part of the contract extension, RigNet will deliver a fully-managed end-to-end IP network solution, relying on VSAT technology for last-mile connectivity, to ensure that the rigs derive greater value from its network services through increased standardization and innovation.

New Centers provide complete managed-communications services worldwide. Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has expanded its maritime service-delivery capabilities by opening Global Installation & Service Centers (GIS Centers) in four major maritime regions. The Stratos GIS Centers in Rotterdam, Hong Kong, Singapore and Lafayette, Louisiana provide complete managed-communications services for ship owners and ship-management companies worldwide.

Five-year contract for SeaAccess solution designed for the commercial maritime market. Solution will provide corporate networking, Internet access and crew morale services. Successful, 5-vessel pilot program provided first-hand experience with SeaAccess service. Harris CapRock Communications, a global provider of fully managed communications for remote and harsh environments, has been chosen by Farstad Shipping to deliver turnkey Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) communications to its fleet of 53 vessels. Farstad Shipping is an international supplier of modern offshore supply vessels that operate in the North Sea, Brazil, Australia and Indian Pacific regions.

RigNet, Inc., a provider of managed remote communications solutions for the upstream oil and gas industry, recently announced the expansion of its contract with Hercules Offshore to provide managed remote communications to its fleet of jackup drilling rigs and U.S. Gulf of Mexico-based inland barges. Under the previous contract, RigNet provided managed communication services to most Hercules Offshore rigs operating outside of the United States. This recent agreement expands the contract to include the company's jackup rigs and inland barges in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, including the recently-acquired rigs from Seahawk Drilling. With managed communications solutions provided by RigNet, Hercules Offshore's remote personnel can now access critical enterprise data, voice and broadband Internet.

Globecomm Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: GCOM), a leading global provider of communications solutions and services, announced today the launch of Globecomm Maritime to provide a comprehensive suite of maritime communication solutions for the maritime market sectors, commercial, fishing, leisure and government. Globecomm Maritime is the result of the integration of the Company’s well-known maritime business units with Globecomm’s global managed communications platform and engineering capabilities.

Telenor Satellite Services announced that PGS Geophysical of Norway has renewed its global satellite communications agreement with Telenor through June 2005. Telenor first began providing communications via satellite to PGS in 1995. The current agreement calls for Telenor to continue to provide its fully-managed Sealink service to a PGS Geophysical fleet of 14 high tech 3D seismic vessels operating around the world. PGS Geophysical acquires, processes, markets, and sells high quality seismic data worldwide. Oil and gas companies use this data to explore for and develop new hydrocarbon fields and to manage fields in production. The Sealink system provides corporate voice and high-speed data communications…

As technologically advanced as communications have become, the bottom line, particularly for business applications, remains basically the same: the need for clear, reliable and cost-effective means to communicate. Trends in the transmission of data, voice and e-mail from ship-to-shore are much like that of land-based operations. The need for more speed and increased reliability are never ending, and the companies that excel are the ones that not only continually innovate, but those that consistently stay on the front of the curve to deliver real-world technologies that deliver benefits in the unique maritime operational environment. In parallel, price pressures are ubiquitous, as shipowners are keen to exploit every outlet to cut costs and generate revenue.

Hurtigruten's fleet of cruise and transport vessels. in 2000. Europe, the United States, and South America. Greenland. and transport vessels. additional vessels that are slated for European and Antarctic cruises. available on a leased basis to ships at sea. as well as ocean-going transportation and supply operations. Stations.

RigNet Inc., a privately held provider of managed communications services to the oil and gas industry, announced it has renewed its contract with ENSCO Offshore Company to provide voice and high-speed data services to ENSCO's fleet-wide drilling operations in the Gulf of Mexico. As part of this renewal, RigNet will now be the sole communications provider for ENSCO's Gulf of Mexico fleet, replacing Caprock Communications who had provided satellite communications. As part of the agreement with ENSCO, the RigNet communications solution will continue to be available on each of ENSCO's 19 rigs operating in this region. (Source: Houston Chronicle)

Infonet Services Corporation announced that it is delivering a global network to The Cronos Group, one of the top ten largest suppliers of intermodal marine containers in the world. The network is supporting software applications across the group's 16 offices throughout Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific. Cronos Group owns and manages a fleet of over 395,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of dry cargo, refrigerated, tank and other specialised containers. Through an extensive global network of offices and agents, Cronos leases containers to approximately 400 ocean carriers and transport operators, including all 30 of the largest ocean carriers.