KVH More Than Doubles mini-VSAT Broadband Network Capacity in Brazil and Africa

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[Satellite TODAY 04-03-13] KVH Industries has expanded the global mini-VSAT Broadband network by more than its double in the Brazilian and African regions. The ongoing global network upgrade involves deployment of Variable Coding, Spreading, and Modulation (VCSM) technology provided by ViaSat, KVH’s partner in the mini-VSAT Broadband network. This is the third major capacity increase in less than five months, following upgrades in the Caribbean and EMEA regions in late 2012.

"Brazil and Africa are key regions for our customer base, as they are important for both the shipping and oil and gas industries," explains Brent Bruun, executive vice president of KVH’s mobile broadband group. "The new VCSM technology enables us to handle transmissions much more efficiently, increasing the amount of data that our network can carry, which is important for both safety and business operations onboard."

KVH leverages the readily available commercial FSS satellite capacity covering the world’s oceans, provided by companies such as Intelsat, Eutelsat, SES, and SkyPerfect JSAT. Currently, the mini-VSAT Broadband network uses 17 leased transponders to cover the globe with a hybrid network including both C-band and Ku-band coverage. KVH’s 1 meter, dual-mode TracPhone V11 antenna seamlessly switches among C- and Ku-band frequencies as easily as the 60 cm TracPhone V7-IP antennas and 37 cm TracPhone V3 antennas switch among Ku-band satellites. As KVH’s customer base grows, the company plans to lease additional capacity.