SES WORLD SKIES has announced it has signed a three-year capacity agreement with Stallion Oilfield Services to enable mission-critical connectivity for hundreds of oil drilling sites throughout America.

As part of the multi-million-dollar renewal, Stallion secured a full transponder of bandwidth on SES' AMC-9 satellite to provide major oil and gas companies with voice and data services over its StaRComm VSAT network. Real-time oil drilling data and phone traffic, much of it securely linked to customer corporate networks, is routed through Stallion's iDirect Evolution hub hosted at SES' gateway in Woodbine, Maryland.

"By using the StaRComm Network, workers at land-based and offshore oil rigs from Alaska to the Gulf of Mexico can collaborate with colleagues across the country and around the world," explained Pedro Buhigas, Director of Technology, Stallion Oilfield Services.

"We provide corporate network-level connectivity, complete with four-digit dialing and high-speed internet and corporate intranet access over SES' satellite infrastructure."

"SES has the reliable satellites and the experienced people we count on to provide mission-critical communications capabilities in some of the remotest locations across North America," said Albert Gonzalez, IT Manager of Infrastructure Services, Stallion Oilfield Services.

"Bandwidth efficiencies delivered over the AMC-9 spacecraft have led to significant distribution cost savings, which we continue to reinvest in our expanding VSAT network."

"Stallion Oilfield Services and its innovative customers require the most flexible communications solutions possible, in places where existing connectivity is often virtually non-existent," said Steve Bunke, Vice President of North America Sales for SES WORLD SKIES.

"Our renewed agreement represents an alliance committed to providing the oil and gas industry with the remote communications capabilities it needs to explore and harvest oil reserves across North America."