KVH Industries has announced the activation of its mini-VSAT Broadbandsm service in Australian and New Zealand waters following the successful completion of satellite testing. The new coverage area is the first significant expansion of the mini-VSAT Broadband service in the southern hemisphere.

Together with the recent addition of coverage in Asia-Pacific waters, it significantly expands the capacity of the mini-VSAT Broadband network to support both leisure boaters as well as the vital commercial shipping markets in the region.

"The addition of live service for Australia and New Zealand moves us one step closer to our goal of offering a seamless global Ku-band broadband satellite communications network," said Brent Bruun, KVH's vice president of sales and business development.

"Five secure earth stations around the globe, together with seven of the world's most powerful communications satellites, are bringing affordable, high-speed Internet connections and crystal clear voice service to maritime customers through our mini-VSAT Broadband network. For aeronautical customers, ViaSat markets the service under the Yondersm brand to business and commercial aircraft."

The mini-VSAT Broadband service, along with the KVH TracPhone V7 antenna system, comprise the first end-to-end 24-inch VSAT hardware, service, and support package available for maritime communications. Together, KVH and ViaSat are already offering Voice over IP phone service and Internet access as fast as 512 Kbps (upload) and 2 Mbps (download) at fixed monthly rates to mariners around the globe.