Groundbreaking Maritime Internet Solution Launched

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

01 February 2012

Maritime Very-Small-Aperture Terminal (VSAT) market leader KVH Industries has announced a major upgrade to its mini-VSAT Broadband network with the addition of global C-band satellite coverage in addition to Ku-band coverage, which will provide Internet availability for 95% of the Earth's surface, including all of the world's major shipping routes, offshore oil fields and commercial fishing grounds.

The first-of-a-kind, unified dual-band maritime satellite communications network will provide multi-megabit service via a single, relatively small antenna to provide offshore connectivity to vessels almost anywhere they travel.

Along with the enhanced satellite coverage, KVH has also introduced the TracPhone V11 satellite communications system, a revolutionary new onboard terminal that uses a single, stabilized antenna with a unique dual-band transmit and receive capability to switch between the mini-VSAT Broadband network's global C- and existing Ku-band satellite coverage. The TracPhone V11 system provides the same high-quality connectivity, including both voice and broadband data, regardless of the type of satellite connection.

"Our mini-VSAT Broadband network's new, global C-band overlay coverage offers our maritime customers the type of next-generation service they've needed to replace expensive legacy services and still provide the global coverage that they have not been able to get from stand-alone Ku-band maritime VSAT services," said KVH's CEO, Martin Kits van Heyningen.

"The 1-meter TracPhone V11 antenna is smaller and lighter than most stand-alone Ku-band antennas, and more than 85% smaller and lighter than the gigantic 1,500 pound, 3.3 meter C-band domes used with older VSAT technology. The best part is that it's one system, not two different antennas like competing products. Further, the same below-decks modem is used for both the C- and Ku-band for a truly seamless and unified solution for the customer. Unlike hybrid systems that use different technologies, this is a pure VSAT solution delivering unified service and hardware that translates to higher quality data connections. IT managers don't have to contend with trying to use different networks with different latencies, IP settings, or protocols to run their onboard applications," he added.

The TracPhone V11 and the enhanced mini-VSAT Broadband service provide vessels travelling between 75 degrees N and 70 degrees S latitude with broadband data connections for accessing the internet or shore-side business networks or for making low-cost, high-quality voice calls. In most areas, the mini-VSAT Broadband service will use powerful Ku-band transponders to provide the TracPhone V11 with high-speed downloads at rates up to 4 Mbps. KVH's Ku-band mini-VSAT Broadband service not only provides the widest coverage of any maritime VSAT service, it also has wide regulatory approval for coastal and in-port use. In areas outside of its Ku-band coverage and for redundant backup service, the TracPhone V11 automatically switches over to powerful C-band global beams. The C-band service has a much longer wavelength than Ku-band services, providing improved resilience to rain and other adverse weather conditions.

Full service is expected to be available for commercial use at the end of June 2012.

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