KVH's new mini-VSAT coverage area to support broadband Internet and VoIP
telephone service for maritime and aeronautical applications
MIDDLETOWN, R.I., June 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Taking its next major
step toward offering global coverage of the mini-VSAT Broadband(sm) service,
KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI) today announced that it has signed a
multi-year agreement with SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (also known as SP-JSAT)
to lease satellite capacity on its JCSAT-1B and the new Intelsat-15
satellites. These satellites will provide mini-VSAT Broadband service coverage
in Asia Pacific waters and in the Indian Ocean, respectively, starting late in
the third quarter of 2009 and early in 2010, respectively. In addition, the
companies will pursue hardware and mini-VSAT Broadband airtime sales in the
Asia Pacific maritime market with SP-JSAT granted exclusive rights for sales
to Japanese-flagged and Japanese-owned vessels while KVH will focus on all
other vessels in the region.
With the activation of mini-VSAT Broadband in Asian waters and in the
Indian Ocean, commercial and leisure vessels will be able to circumnavigate
the globe without leaving the mini-VSAT Broadband coverage area. In addition
to providing service to the KVH mini-VSAT maritime system, the KVH and ViaSat
Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT) joint effort also expands network coverage to the ViaSat
Yonder(sm) mobile network for in-flight broadband to business and commercial
aircraft.
"It is an honor to be working with SP-JSAT to extend mini-VSAT Broadband
coverage," remarked Brent C. Bruun, KVH's vice president of sales and business
development. "With the addition of these new regions, our effort to provide
affordable mobile Ku-band broadband connections worldwide remains on track and
a strategic priority for the company. This expansion will also dramatically
expand our ability to support the world's commercial shipping market. In fact,
13 of the world's 20 busiest ports in terms of cargo tonnage are within the
new coverage areas, offering us significant new hardware and service sales
opportunities."
Mr. Mitsutoshi Akao, general manager of the Global & Mobile Business
Division for SP-JSAT's Satellite Business Group, commented on the value of the
new agreement for both companies. "The collaboration of SP-JSAT and KVH
promises the Asian shipping markets access to a versatile satellite
communications service from KVH along with service coverage broadcast by our
powerful satellite network and supported through our airtime sales channels.
We look forward to working together with KVH Industries to expand the use of
mini-VSAT Broadband and establish it as the new standard for global broadband
service."
The mini-VSAT Broadband service, along with the KVH TracPhone(R) V7
antenna, comprise the first end-to-end 24-inch VSAT hardware, service, and
support package available for maritime communications. Together, KVH and
ViaSat are already offering Voice over IP phone service and Internet access as
fast as 512 Kbps (upload) and 2 Mbps (download) at fixed monthly rates to
mariners throughout North America, the Caribbean, the North Atlantic, Europe,
the Northern Pacific, and the Persian Gulf.
Maps illustrating the current and planned coverage for mini-VSAT Broadband
service are available at http://kvh.com/footprints. Visit
http://www.minivsat.com for additional details regarding the TracPhone V7 and
mini-VSAT Broadband service.
Note to Editors: Press-ready images of KVH's TracPhone V7 are available at
http://press.kvh.com for download and editorial use.
About SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation
SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (www.sptvjsat.com/en/) is a leader in the
converging fields of broadcasting and communications. It is Asia's largest
satellite operator with a fleet of 12 satellites, and Japan's only provider of
both multi-channel pay TV broadcasting and satellite communications services.
SKY Perfect JSAT delivers a broad range of entertainment through the SKY
PerfecTV! SKY PerfecTV! e2 and SKY PerfecTV! HIKARI platforms, the most
extensive in Japan with a total of 3.7 million subscribers. In addition, SKY
Perfect JSAT's satellite communications services, which cover Japan and the
rest of Asia, as well as Oceania, Hawaii and North America, play a vital role
in supporting safety, security and convenience for society as a whole.
About KVH Industries, Inc.
Middletown, RI-based KVH Industries, Inc. (www.kvh.com), and its wholly
owned subsidiary, KVH Europe A/S, are leading providers of in-motion satellite
TV and communications systems, having designed, manufactured, and sold more
than 150,000 mobile satellite antennas for applications on vessels, vehicles,
and aircraft. KVH's mission is to connect mobile customers around the globe
with the same digital television entertainment, communications, and Internet
services that they enjoy in their homes and offices.
This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, for example, the service
rollout plans, the functionality, characteristics, quality and performance of
KVH's products and technology; anticipated innovation and product development;
and customer demand, preferences, requirements and expectations. The actual
results could differ materially. Factors that may cause such differences
include, among others, the successful launch and deployment of new satellites;
uncertainty about the scope of customer demand; the potential inability to
secure the licenses necessary for the network; risks associated with the
delivery or performance of critical hardware; future decisions about the
expected profitability of additional satellite regions; changes in the costs
and capabilities of competing offerings; and those other risk factors
discussed 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 or developments.
KVH and TracPhone are registered trademarks of KVH Industries. "mini-VSAT
Broadband" is a service mark of KVH Industries. All other trademarks are the
property of their respective companies.
Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click
appropriate link.
Svend Lykke Larsen
https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=87608
Brent Bruun
https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=85214
SOURCE
KVH Industries, Inc.
CONTACT:
Chris Watson of KVH Industries, +1-401-845-8138,
cwatson@kvh.com