KVH Increases Mini-VSAT Broadband Network Capacity

KVH Industries, Inc. has completed several capacity increases for its mini-VSAT Broadband network to support heightened demand from customers engaged in a wide range of commercial maritime activities around the world, including offshore oil and gas, fishing, and shipping, the company announced today.

Utilizing 17 satellites and 24 transponders to provide global coverage, KVH’s mini-VSAT Broadband is the most extensive C/Ku-band maritime VSAT network in the world, and is designed for rapid expansion by accessing abundant commercial satellite capacity. Working with leading commercial satellite providers, KVH implemented the recent capacity expansions to meet the ever-growing demand for broadband services at sea.

“The commercial maritime industry is increasingly reliant on broadband services to improve operational efficiency,” says Martin Kits van Heyningen, KVH chief executive officer. “Data and connectivity enable ship owners to accomplish many goals, from reduced fuel consumption through voyage planning to increased safety through updated training programs delivered to crew while they are onboard. We are continually monitoring and improving the mini-VSAT Broadband network to ensure our maritime customers have the critical connectivity they need at all times onboard their vessels.”

KVH’s recent capacity expansions for the mini-VSAT Broadband network include:

•             Asia-Pacific: The capacity of a key satellite beam for the Asia-Pacific region was increased 60%, providing support for commercial shipping and offshore oil and gas activities in the area.

•             Pacific Northwest: A new beam covering the Pacific Northwest was added, providing support for the many commercial fishing fleets located in this area.

•             Eastern Canada and U.S. coast: A new beam was added to more than double the network capacity for the eastern coast of Canada and the United States, a key area for commercial shipping, fishing, and yacht chartering.

KVH’s mini-VSAT Broadband network has twice the market share of its closest competitor in the maritime VSAT market, according to recent industry reports by Comsys and Euroconsult. KVH and its technology partner, ViaSat, Inc., use ArcLight spread spectrum technology to deliver fast broadband service, with Internet download speeds up to 4 Mbps. With its enterprise-grade infrastructure, the mini-VSAT Broadband network carried 500 TB of data and 25 million voice minutes in 2014.