KVH Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq:KVHI) recently shipped its 5,000th
TracPhone® satellite communications antenna system for the
mini-VSAT Broadbandsm network, adding more than 1,000 units in the
past year and extending the company's market share lead in maritime
VSAT service. Together, the advanced TracPhone antenna systems and
global mini-VSAT Broadband network constitute an end-to-end
solution for maritime satellite communications, providing essential
connectivity to tankers, containerships, fishing fleets, offshore
supply vessels, government patrol cutters, and luxury yachts around
the world. "Our solution has been widely adopted because it brings
simplicity and value to ship owners, IT fleet managers, and vessel
captains operating global vessels in a highly competitive
environment," says Martin Kits van Heyningen, KVH's chief executive
officer. "When we entered the market, accessing the Internet at sea
was ridiculously expensive, either due to extremely high airtime
rates or the need for complex, expensive onboard equipment that was
difficult to install and maintain. Our goal was to win a leadership
position through market disruption, changing the way mariners
thought about satellite communications by offering small, simple,
easy-to-install equipment, fast data speeds, and low airtime
costs." In 2012, just five years after being introduced, the
mini-VSAT Broadband service became the maritime VSAT market share
leader according to leading market research reports, a position
that has been repeatedly re-confirmed in report updates. "Our
approach is unique in that we are the only company that designs and
manufactures our own onboard systems, and that operates our own
network, so we deliver a fully integrated end-to-end solution,"
says Mr. Kits van Heyningen. "This approach allows us to deliver a
better user experience by simplifying our equipment and tailoring
services to perform on our network without a lot of custom
configuration."
KVH's advanced TracPhone antenna systems include the TracPhone
V11-IP, a 1.1 meter diameter, dual-mode C/Ku-band antenna for
global VSAT connectivity; the TracPhone V7-IP, a 60 cm diameter
enterprise-grade antenna for Ku-band service worldwide; and the
TracPhone V3-IP, a 37 cm diameter Ku-band antenna that is the
world's most compact maritime VSAT antenna. All three TracPhone
V-IP systems feature the Integrated CommBoxTM Modem (ICM), a
streamlined belowdecks unit that replaces the need for a rack full
of components and integrates all antenna control, onboard network
management, and modem functions in one small box. The compact
antenna hardware makes installation faster and less expensive, and
gives worldwide fleets the ability to efficiently install the KVH
system with minimal idle time for their vessels. "Operating our own
network provides us with unique opportunities to offer creative
solutions to our customers' problems," says Mr. Kits van Heyningen.
"For example, delivering large files such as movies, music, and TV
shows, or digital charts and training videos used to cost thousands
if not tens of thousands of dollars over competing satellite
networks, if allowed at all. We invented a new service called
IP-MobileCastTM that actually broadcasts large files to all of our
customers at once, which is so efficient we don't charge for the
content's delivery. Instead, fleets subscribe to the news,
entertainment, and sports content that they want." Prior to
launching the IP-MobileCast content delivery service last year, KVH
developed not only the multicasting technology to make it feasible,
but also acquired a company to produce, procure, and license
content for the maritime market. KVH Media Group produces daily
digital newspapers under the NEWSlinkTM brand; licenses
award-winning new-release Hollywood movies and TV programs under
the MOVIElinkTM and TVlinkTM brands; provides sports highlights and
video clips from around the world under the SPORTSlinkTM brand; and
develops digital music channels under the MUSIClinkTM brand. This
content is available via IP-MobileCast subscription packages. To
help fleets operate more efficiently, KVH has collaborated with
leading maritime navigation and weather content providers such as
Jeppesen, Transas, and AWT to deliver electronic charts and
high-resolution weather data via the IP-MobileCast content delivery
service. Aware of the importance of seafarer safety and
professional qualifications, KVH also plans to provide multicasting
delivery of maritime training content from VideotelTM, a leader in
maritime training and a company that KVH acquired in July 2014. KVH
conducts global sales and support activities from offices around
the world, and provides 24/7/365 network monitoring and technical
support to mini-VSAT Broadband vessels. The global satellite
network is the world's most extensive C/Ku-band maritime VSAT
network, utilizing capacity from 23 transponders on 16 satellites.
In 2014, the mini-VSAT Broadband network delivered 500 terabytes of
data and 25 million voice minutes to vessels around the world. Note
to Editors: For more information about the TracPhone V-IP antenna
systems and mini-VSAT Broadband network, please visit the KVH
website, www.minivsat.com/vip. High-resolution images of KVH
products and coverage maps are available at the KVH Press Room
Image Library, www.kvh.com/press-room/image-library. About
KVH Industries, Inc.
KVH Industries is a leading provider of in-motion satellite TV
and communications systems, having designed, manufactured, and sold
more than 175,000 mobile satellite antennas for applications on
vessels, vehicles, and aircraft. KVH is also a leading news, music,
and entertainment content provider to many industries including
maritime, retail, and leisure. Videotel, a KVH company, is a
leading provider of maritime training. KVH is based in Middletown,
RI, with research, development, and manufacturing operations in
Middletown, RI, and Tinley Park, IL. The company's global presence
includes offices in Belgium, Brazil, Cyprus, Denmark, Hong Kong,
Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, and the United
Kingdom.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that
involve risks and uncertainties. For example, forward-looking
statements include statements regarding the timing and occurrence
of new service rollout plans; the functionality, characteristics,
quality, and performance of KVH products and technology; and
customer demand, preferences, requirements, and expectations. 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
unanticipated technical or legal impediments that could delay or
impede new service rollout plans or expected strategic
relationships; the need to increase sales of the TracPhone V-IP
series products and related services to improve airtime gross
margins; the impact of extended economic weakness on the sale and
use of marine vessels, particularly in Europe and Asia; the need
for, or delays in, qualification of products to customer or
regulatory standards; unanticipated declines or changes in customer
demand, due to competitive, economic, seasonal, and other factors,
particularly with respect to the TracPhone V-IP series products and
the mini-VSAT Broadband service; KVH's dependence on the
availability of third-party satellites and services to support
transmissions to mobile antennas; unanticipated expenses associated
with the launch of the IP-MobileCast service; and unanticipated
increase in media costs or loss of distribution rights. These and
other factors are discussed in more detail in our most recent
quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. We do not assume
any obligation to update our forward-looking statements to reflect
new information and developments. KVH, TracPhone, CommBox,
IP-MobileCast, NEWSlink, MOVIElink, TVlink, SPORTSlink, MUSIClink,
and Videotel are trademarks of KVH Industries, Inc. mini-VSAT
Broadband is a service mark of KVH Industries, Inc.
CONTACT: Jill Connors
Media & Communications Manager
KVH Industries, Inc.
401-851-3824
jconnors@kvh.com
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