M. H. Simonsen ApS, of Denmark, recently adopted the TracPhone® V7 and mini-VSAT Broadband(sm) service from KVH Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq: KVHI) as its primary communications solution on six ice class oil/chemical tankers. The Simonsen vessels now experience reduced service costs, increased bandwidth, and improved crew morale, all due to broadband data connections, VoIP telephone service, fixed-rate pricing, and a Ku-band network that is expanding to offer global coverage.

The investment is turning out to be a successful one in terms of long-term affordability — KVH was the only vendor able to offer a fixed monthly airtime rate, which was the Company's main reason for selecting the mini-VSAT Broadband. Communications capabilities are also important factors in strengthening the competitive position for commercial shipping companies through the Ship Inspection Report Programme (SIRE), which tracks safety and quality in the shipping industry and helps fleets with high scores to secure the most lucrative contracts. Simonsen is performing very well in several  important SIRE ranking categories, thanks to mini-VSAT Broadband. The mini-VSAT Broadband service, along with the KVH TracPhone V7 antenna, comprise the first end-to-end 26-inch VSAT hardware, service, and support package available for maritime communications and offers Voice over IP phone service and Internet access as fast as 512 Kbps (upload) and 2 Mbps (download) at fixed monthly rates. The compact TracPhone V7, which is 75 percent lighter and 85 percent smaller by volume than traditional 1-meter VSAT antennas, brings a blend of the economy and speed of VSAT communications with lower costs and easier installation, making the system exceptionally well suited for commercial oil and gas, shipping, and government vessels.