KVH Industries has announced a major new promotion designed to make it even easier for vessel owners to move from old "big dish" VSAT systems to KVH's mini-VSAT Broadband service and TracPhone V7 hardware.

The "Move Down to mini-VSAT Broadband" Upgrade Promotion brings KVH's complete, ultra-reliable maritime satellite communications solution to current VSAT users at special rates, offering deep hardware and airtime discounts to mariners who replace an older VSAT system with the TracPhone V7 and mini-VSAT Broadband service.

Mariners have the option to enjoy 3 months of free airtime and almost 40% off hardware costs when purchasing outright, or a 10% airtime discount and nearly 30% off the monthly hardware charge if they choose KVH's convenient lease option.

"With this promotion, vessel owners can now enjoy lower airtime costs, smaller equipment, and lower hardware and installation costs, even as they upgrade their maritime satellite communications for faster Broadband connections, seamless global coverage, more reliable service, and better after-sale support than they've had in the past with older VSAT technology," says Brent Bruun, KVH's vice president of sales and business development.

"We're offering our customers an outstanding, very affordable opportunity to take the next step in communications at sea - a step that can dramatically improve efficiency, and make a fundamental change in the way they do business."

The mini-VSAT Broadband service, along with the KVH TracPhone V7 antenna, is the base of the first end-to-end 24-inch VSAT hardware, service, and support package available for maritime communications and offers Voice over IP phone service and Internet access as fast as 512 Kbps (upload) and 2 Mbps (download) at fixed monthly rates.

The compact TracPhone V7, which is 75% lighter and 85% smaller by volume than traditional 1-meter VSAT antennas, blends economy and speed with lower costs and easier installation on all vessels, making it exceptionally well suited for commercial oil and gas, shipping, and government vessels.