UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 1, 2012
KVH Industries, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
| Delaware | 0-28082 | 05-0420589 | ||
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||
| 50 Enterprise Center Middletown, RI |
02842 | |||
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) | |||
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (401) 847-3327
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| ¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
ITEM 8.01. OTHER EVENTS
KVH Industries, Inc. (the Company or KVH) today announced a major upgrade to its mini-VSAT BroadbandSM network with the addition of global C-band satellite coverage overlaying its industry-leading Ku-band footprint. Along with the enhanced satellite coverage, KVH 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 seamlessly switch between the mini-VSAT Broadband network’s global C- and Ku-band satellite coverage.
A copy of the Company’s press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. The press release is incorporated by reference herein and the foregoing description of the press release is qualified in its entirety by reference to the attached exhibit.
ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit |
Description | |
| 99.1 | February 1, 2012 press release entitled “KVH Introduces Breakthrough Dual-band Maritime VSAT Solution with Global Coverage” (furnished pursuant to Item 8.01). | |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| KVH INDUSTRIES, INC. | ||||||
| Date: February 1, 2012 | BY: | /S/ PATRICK J. SPRATT | ||||
| Patrick J. Spratt Chief Financial and Accounting Officer | ||||||
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit |
Description | |
| 99.1 | February 1, 2012 press release entitled “KVH Introduces Breakthrough Dual-band Maritime VSAT Solution with Global Coverage” (furnished pursuant to Item 8.01). | |
Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
| Contact: | Nicole Mongillo KVH Industries, Inc. 401-845-2443 nmongillo@kvh.com |
KVH Introduces Breakthrough Dual-band Maritime VSAT Solution with Global Coverage
New, fully global C-band overlay to mini-VSAT Broadband network will allow new TracPhone V11 antenna to deliver seamless worldwide broadband service
MIDDLETOWN, RI – February 1, 2012 – Maritime VSAT market leader KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI) today announced a major upgrade to its mini-VSAT BroadbandSM network with the addition of global C-band satellite coverage overlaying its industry-leading Ku-band footprint. This first-of-a-kind, unified dual-band maritime satellite communications network will provide multi-megabit service covering 95% of the Earth’s surface, including all of the world’s major shipping routes, offshore oil fields, and commercial fishing grounds. It will be the first next-generation global VSAT network using a single, relatively small antenna to provide offshore connectivity to vessels almost anywhere they travel.
Along with the enhanced satellite coverage, KVH 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 seamlessly switch between the mini-VSAT Broadband network’s global C- and 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.
With approximately 2,000 systems sold, the mini-VSAT Broadband network is already the largest maritime VSAT service and it features the broadest Ku-band coverage area. Both the C- and Ku-band services are delivered using ArcLight® proprietary spread spectrum technology, which is provided by KVH’s technology partner, ViaSat (Nasdaq: VSAT). Just as spread spectrum 3G technology replaced older TDMA 2G technology to revolutionize the mobile phone industry, the spread spectrum technology used in the mini-VSAT Broadband network provides faster, higher-quality service to smaller, more powerful onboard terminals than older VSAT technology.
The TracPhone V11 and the enhanced mini-VSAT Broadband service provide vessels travelling between 75°N and 70°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 Ka-band services, providing improved resilience to rain and other adverse weather conditions.
KVH already has customers lined up for the new global C/Ku-band offering, and expects to ship sample TracPhone V11 units during Q2. Full service is expected to be available for commercial use at the end of June, 2012.
For further information and a complete overview of the new mini-VSAT Broadband global C/Ku-band service and the TracPhone V11, please visit www.minivsat.com/v11.
Note to Editors: High-resolution, press-ready images of the TracPhone V11 and dual-band mini-VSAT Broadband coverage map are available at http://press.kvh.com for download and editorial use.
About KVH Industries, Inc.
KVH Industries is a leading manufacturer of solutions that provide global high-speed Internet, television, and voice services via satellite to mobile users at sea, on land, and in the air. KVH is also a premier manufacturer of high performance sensors and integrated inertial systems for defense and commercial guidance and stabilization applications. The company is based in Middletown, RI, with facilities in Illinois, Denmark, Norway, and Singapore.
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This release may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, for example, the functionality, characteristics, quality and performance of KVH’s products and technology; anticipated innovation and product development; and customer preferences, requirements and expectations. The actual results could differ materially. Factors that may cause such differences include, among others, those 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, Inc. “mini-VSAT Broadband” is a service mark of KVH Industries, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.