KVH Targets Oil and Gas Industry with New TracPhone V3-IP and mini-VSAT Broadband Service
By Veronica Magan | April 24, 2013
[Satellite TODAY 04-24-13] KVH Industries is aiming to meet the demand for reliable, mobile broadband communications at remote well sites in the oil and gas industry with the new TracPhone V3-IP terminal for its mini-VSAT Broadband service. The in-motion antenna comes with compact, integrated belowdecks equipment built into a single 2U enclosure. The system is on display and available to order at the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers Expo and Annual Meeting in Wichita Falls this week.
"The need for data at well sites is increasing," says Brandon Bensch, IT manager for Gore Nitrogen Pumping Service, which uses KVH’s mini-VSAT Broadband service on its data van. "Our customers want reports generated and sent, and cell phone service just isn’t available everywhere. Ten years ago, you may have seen one satellite antenna on a job, but now there are multiples. It’s kind of a ‘have-to’ thing now."
Unlike the 1-meter antennas traditionally used for well site communications, the TracPhone V3-IP uses a compact 14.5-inch antenna dish, and does not have to be deployed, activated, and positioned onsite. It can be activated and used even as the vehicle travels to a well site. The TracPhone V3-IP helps manage onboard networks both from the vehicle’s computers and remotely from the company’s headquarters.