Vroon Extends 140-plus Vessel Contract for KVH mini-VSAT Broadband Solution
“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
About Vroon
Vroon, an international leader in seagoing transportation services and engineering and support solutions, is based in
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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
KVH, IP-MobileCast, KVH OneCare, TracPhone, CommBox, Power of One, and Videotel are trademarks of
For further information, please contact:Jill Connors Media Relations ManagerKVH Industries, Inc. Tel: +1 401-851-3824 jconnors@kvh.com orPhil Page Elaborate Communications Tel: +44 (0) 129 668 2104 ppage@elabor8.co.ukSue Henney Marketing Manager KVH Training & Content Tel: +44 (0) 151 236 4124 shenney@kvh.com