AMC 21 at Orbital’s facilities.
Image credit: Orbital

[Via Satellite 09-18-13] SES and KVH Industries have signed an expanded capacity agreement to provide connectivity to luxury, government and commercial ships across the Caribbean and beyond. The deal will benefit the U.S. Coast Guard and its mission-critical use of reliable mobile broadband throughout North America. KVH’s agreement with the government homeland defense agency represents the largest maritime VSAT agreement to date, according to SES.

As part of the multi-year deal, KVH will use a 36MHz Ku-band transponder aboard SES’ AMC 21 satellite to provide high-speed Internet access and voice-over-IP services via its mini-VSAT broadband network to vessels traversing the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico and coastal waters off the U.S. Eastern Seaboard.

“Together, SES and KVH are putting advanced broadband and voice offerings aboard ships and at the fingertips of passengers and crew and playing a major role in keeping them connected and in touch with colleagues and family,” said John Matlaga, vice president of enterprise and mobility services for SES’ North American region.