Next-generation satellite communications in Europe received a significant boost this week as KVH Industries, Inc., and its partner, ViaSat, Inc., increased the mini-VSAT Broadband network's capacity in the region by 100%.

At the same time, the addition of a new satellite, NSS-6, expanded the overall coverage area for the popular worldwide Ku-band satellite network that supports maritime subscribers as well as ViaSat's Yonder in-flight broadband network for business and commercial aircraft.

"The addition of a new satellite and the rollout of a powerful new high-density waveform, dramatically enhances the ability of our mini-VSAT Broadband network to support existing and future subscribers," explained Brent C. Bruun, KVH's vice president of satellite sales and business development.

"Designed to offer service and performance superior to traditional maritime VSAT services, the network is built upon a robust, flexible architecture and ViaSat's ArcLight spread spectrum technology, permitting us to quickly and easily expand the service.

Most importantly, commercial, leisure, and government mariners who rely on mini-VSAT Broadband for their Internet and voice connections will enjoy the benefit from these enhancements via their existing, compact TracPhone V7 hardware."

The mini-VSAT Broadband network was designed from the ground up to be the first next-generation maritime satellite communications solution. Offering service and performance superior to traditional maritime VSAT services through a global spread spectrum satellite network, it also includes the rugged KVH TracPhone V7, the first FCC-approved 24-inch (60 cm) VSAT antenna.

Already the fastest growing maritime VSAT solution, mini-VSAT Broadband's seamless worldwide network is delivered by 12 satellite transponders and 9 secure earth stations and offers voice service and Internet access as fast as 512 Kbps (upload) and 2 Mbps (download) with significant cost savings compared to competing services.