KVH Wins $42 Million U.S. Coast Guard Contract for mini-VSAT Broadband Service
September 30 2010 - 1:15PM
- 10-year contract covers hardware, airtime, and global
support
- KVH TracPhone V7 systems to be deployed on up to 216
U.S. Coast Guard small cutters over next 3-5 years
The U.S. Coast Guard today selected KVH Industries, Inc.
(Nasdaq:KVHI) to supply the next-generation satellite
communications solution for its small cutter fleet. The winner of a
full and open competitive procurement process, KVH's TracPhone® V7
satellite communication system and the mini-VSAT Broadbandsm
service becomes the U.S. Coast Guard's Small Cutter Connectivity
(SCC) Ku Band System and Air Time Support Services solution. The
U.S. Coast Guard Telecommunications and Information Systems Command
(TISCOM) will deploy it over a 3- to 5-year period aboard as many
as 216 small cutters representing 16 different cutter classes. The
contract, encompassing the shipboard hardware, airtime services,
and support, is a 10-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity
(IDIQ) Contract valued at approximately $42 million. In conjunction
with the contract award, KVH has also received the first task order
from the U.S. Coast Guard to begin program implementation
immediately. Supporting KVH in this multi-year effort will be
network partner ViaSat, Inc. (Nasdaq:VSAT) and logistics partner
Mackay Communications.
"In the face of rapidly expanding data communications
requirements, including real-time use of biometric technology,
homeland security efforts, and extended worldwide operations, the
U.S. Coast Guard needed a global communication solution robust
enough to support these demands and rugged enough for even the most
demanding maritime conditions," explains Martin Kits van Heyningen,
KVH's chief executive officer. "It's gratifying that the U.S. Coast
Guard recognized that the combination of our TracPhone V7 and the
mini-VSAT Broadband service offered the capacity and reliability to
meet these requirements while providing the best value to the
government. We are honored to provide the dedicated professionals
of the U.S. Coast Guard with the critical satellite communication
technology and service that they need to complete their missions
successfully now and in the future."
The Small Cutter Connectivity program is part of the U.S. Coast
Guard's initiative to upgrade the legacy cutter fleet's commercial
satellite systems from Inmarsat to Ku-band in order to provide
improved military communication capabilities for voice and data
transmission and reception, as well as improving interoperability
with Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense
partners.
The mini-VSAT Broadband network was designed by KVH and ViaSat
from the ground up to be the first next-generation maritime
satellite communications solution. Based on ViaSat's exclusive
ArcLight® spread spectrum technology, KVH's mini-VSAT network
offers broadband and voice performance superior to traditional
maritime VSAT or Inmarsat services via the compact KVH TracPhone
V7, the first FCC-approved 24-inch (60 cm) VSAT system. The
seamless worldwide network is delivered by 11 satellite
transponders and 8 secure earth stations and offers voice service
and Internet access as fast as 512 Kbps (upload) and 2 Mbps
(download) with significant cost savings compared to competing
services.
Already the fastest growing maritime VSAT solution with
approximately 1,000 units shipped in the three years since the
network's launch, KVH currently provides the TracPhone V7 and
mini-VSAT Broadband service to 38 U.S. Coast Guard small cutters,
which will be part of the potential 216-vessel deployment. In
addition, KVH's mini-VSAT Broadband solution is fielded aboard
vessels of the U.S. Navy, joint forces, foreign coalition navies,
state emergency service organizations, commercial fleets operating
worldwide, and leisure yachts.
Visit http://www.minivsat.com for more information about
the TracPhone V7 and the mini-VSAT Broadband service.
Note to editors: High-resolution, press-ready images are
available at http://press.kvh.com for download and editorial
use.
About KVH Industries, Inc.
Middletown, RI-based KVH Industries, Inc. 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 may contain certain forward-looking statements that
involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements
include, for example, the potential value of military contracts and
the anticipated number of KVH products to be fielded. The actual
results could differ materially. Factors that may cause such
differences include, among others, uneven military sales cycles,
changes in military fielding and equipment requirements, and
changes in international situations, as well as 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.
CONTACT: KVH Industries, Inc.
Chris Watson
401-845-8138
cwatson@kvh.com
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