KVH enhances VoIP service for mini-VSAT broadband network to improve maritime phone calls

MIDDLETOWN – KVH Industries Inc. is offering a new service for its mini-VSAT broadband global maritime satellite network to ensure its customers always receive high-quality phone calls when at sea.
According to information from the company, the network’s Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service is now on a “prioritized and protected data stream” that is separate from the network’s overall broadband data traffic.
KVH said this enhancement resolves two issues – sound quality, and increased onboard data usage.
Maritime operators rely on broadband connectivity to access email, and to use web-based applications for better voyage planning, fuel optimization and remote systems monitoring. Vessels also “experience demand for VoIP services around the clock by crew and officers, given the 24/7/365 nature of commercial vessel operations,” KVH said in a news release.
“With this enhancement, mini-VSAT Broadband users enjoy extremely high-quality VoIP service even during heavy data network use,” Marc Edwards, KVH’s network operations director, said in a statement. “We rolled out this updated configuration to all service beams on the network, and the feedback indicates the quality of our voice service to be exceptionally good.” 
VoIP, which uses an Internet connection to transmit voice signals, is the primary way vessels conduct phone calls from sea.
A telephony measurement known as mean opinion score (MOS) quantifies the voice quality of phone transmissions on a 1-to-5 scale, 5 being best. A score of 3.4 is considered good for a satellite phone call, and mini-VSAT Broadband VoIP calls measure up to 3.75, which is the same as a land-based VoIP call, KVH said.
The mini-VSAT Broadband network provides broadband connectivity to commercial vessels and recreational yachts around the world, and is the market share leader in maritime VSAT, according to a 2014 report by industry analyst Euroconsult.
KVH also designs and manufactures the TracPhone V-IP series of satellite communications antenna systems for use with the mini-VSAT Broadband network. 

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