The US Coast Guard has agreed a new deal with KVH for the supply of satellite communications services to its small cutter fleet of more than 140 vessels and platforms.
KVH’s TracPhone V7-HTS Ku-band satellite communications system and mini-VSAT Broadband service were selected for the fleet following a tender process, with the deal expected to be worth up to $69 million.
The USCG anticipates that approximately 20 new cutters will join the small cutter fleet over the next five years, which it expects will be outfitted with the same KVH systems.
“We are honoured to have delivered critical satellite communications technology, service, and support to the dedicated professionals of the US Coast Guard for 12 years. And we are very proud to have been selected to continue to service them with this new award,” said Brent Bruun, President and CEO of KVH.
“Our TracPhone V7-HTS provides reliable, secure connectivity and coverage and will serve as a vital tool in the Coast Guard’s mission to ensure the safety and security of US ports and waterways.”
The TracPhoneV7-HTS is a 60 cm VSAT-only system with speeds up to 10/3 Mbps (down/up), with the hardware having been already deployed on the small cutters as part of the original contract. The 3-axis gyro-stabilised antenna includes a 4th axis of automatic skew adjustment, to maintain connectivity in rough seas and fast speeds.
KVH’s hardware and services will continue to be used for remote connectivity to the Coast Guard’s data network, CGOne, for mission essential applications.
