KVH Industries, Inc., incorporated on August 16, 1985, is a manufacturer of solutions that provide high-speed Internet, television and voice services through satellite to mobile users at sea and on land. The Company also provides commercially licensed entertainment, including news, sports, music and movies, to commercial and leisure customers in the maritime, hotel and retail markets. The Company develops and distributes training films and e-learning computer-based training courses to commercial maritime customers. It is also a manufacturer of navigational sensors and integrated inertial systems for defense and commercial guidance and stabilization applications. The Company designs, develops, manufactures and markets mobile communications products and services for the marine and land mobile markets, and navigation, guidance and stabilization products for both the commercial and defense markets. The Company operates in two geographic segments, in the mobile communications, navigation and guidance and stabilization equipment industry. The Company has two primary product categories: mobile communication and guidance and stabilization. Mobile communication sales and services include marine, land mobile, and automotive communication equipment and satellite-based voice, television and Broadband Internet connectivity services, and distribution of commercially licensed news, sports, movies and music content for commercial and leisure customers in the maritime, hotel, and retail markets.
Mobile Broadband Products
The Company offers a family of mobile satellite antenna products under the TracVision brand for both maritime and terrestrial customers that want to access live television while on the move. For access to the Internet and voice services while on the move (collectively referred as airtime services), the Company offers a family of mobile satellite antenna products and services under the brands TracPhone and mini-VSAT Broadband.
The Company's mobile satellite antenna products are installed on mobile platforms and use robotics, stabilization and control software, sensing technologies, transceiver integration and advanced antenna designs to automatically search for, identify and point directly at the selected television and communications satellite while the vehicle or vessel is in motion. Its antennas use gyros and inclinometers to measure the pitch, roll and yaw of an antenna platform in relation to the earth. Microprocessors and its stabilization and control software use that data to compute the antenna movement necessary for the antenna's motors to point the antenna properly and maintain contact with the satellite. If an obstruction temporarily blocks the satellite signal, its products continue to track the satellite's location according to the movement of the antenna platform in order to carry out automatic, rapid reacquisition of the signal when a direct line of sight to the satellite is restored.
In the marine market, the Company offers a range of mobile satellite television and communications products. The Company's TracVision TV-series satellite television antennas range from recreational vessels as small as 20 to 25 feet to large commercial vessels. Its family of marine TracVision products includes the 32-cm diameter TracVision TV1, 37-cm diameter TracVision TV3, 45-cm diameter TracVision TV5, 60-cm diameter TracVision TV6 and 81-cm TracVision TV8. These products are compatible with Ku-band high definition television (HDTV) programming, as well as regional satellite television services around the globe, based on available signal strength and antenna size requirements. Its TracVision HD7 uses a 61-cm diameter satellite television antenna to receive signals from over two DIRECTV Ka-band satellites and approximately one DIRECTV Ku-band satellite simultaneously. It includes an Internet Protocol-enabled antenna control unit, as well as optional antenna control through a free TracVision application for use on an Apple iPhone or iPad.
The Company's mini-VSAT Broadband network offers an end-to-end solution for offshore connectivity. It offers commercial, leisure and government customers an integrated hardware and service solution for mobile communications and region-to-region roaming. The Company designs and manufactures the onboard TracPhone V-IP terminals; owns the hub equipment installed in leased earth stations; leases the satellite capacity; manages the network through third-party service providers, and provides around the clock after-sale support. Its mini-VSAT Broadband network utilizes ArcLight spread spectrum modem technology. Its 37-cm diameter TracPhone V3-IP Ku-band antenna is used on smaller vessels, as well as land vehicles. The Company also offers CommBox, a ship-to-shore network management product that comprises shipboard hardware, a KVH-hosted or privately owned shore-based hub, and a suite of software applications.
The Company offers Iridium OpenPort hardware and service to be used in conjunction with its mini-VSAT service. Iridium OpenPort service provides data rates up to approximately 128 kilobytes per second (Kbps) across the world, including the Polar Regions. The Company offers the Iridium hardware and service along with its mini-VSAT solution with the integrated CommBox functionality, which will switch to the Iridium service if the mini-VSAT service is not available. In addition to TracPhone VSAT products and mini-VSAT Broadband service, the Company also offers a family of Inmarsat-compatible TracPhone products that provide in-motion access to global satellite communications. These products rely on services offered by Inmarsat, a satellite service provider that supports links for phone, fax and data communications. The TracPhone FB150, FB250 and FB500 antennas use the Inmarsat FleetBroadband service to offer voice, as well as high-speed Internet service. The TracPhone FB150, FB250, FB500 and FleetOne products are manufactured by Thrane & Thrane A/S of Denmark and distributed on an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) basis by the Company in North America under its TracPhone brand and distributed in other markets on a non-exclusive basis.
The Company designs, manufactures and sells a range of TracVision satellite television antenna systems for use on a range of vehicles, including recreational vehicles (RV), buses, conversion vans and automobiles. In the RV and bus markets, the Company offers TracVision satellite television products, intended for both stationary and in-motion use. The Company's TracVision R1 delivers DIRECTV or DISH network service through an approximately 32-cm diameter dome. Its TracVision A9 uses hybrid phased-array antenna technology to provide in-motion reception of satellite television programming in the continental United States using either the DIRECTV or DISH Network services. The TracVision A9 includes a mobile satellite television antenna and an Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled television hub for system configuration and control through wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) devices, such as an Apple iPhone or iPad. The TracVision A9 is also suitable for tall motor coaches and buses. Automotive customers subscribe to DIRECTV's TOTAL CHOICE MOBILE satellite television programming package, which is used for automotive applications, or to DISH Network programming.
Airtime Services
In addition to mobile satellite antenna hardware and software, the Company offers airtime plans that enable customers to obtain Internet and voice services. The Company offers a range of rate plans that require an initial commitment of one or more years with a one-year auto-renewal feature. Its mini-VSAT Broadband 2 features include new airtime plans, a new network management portal and a new comprehensive global customer support program. Its new airtime plans are a series of usage-based plans, designed around each ship's monthly data requirements for operational and crew needs that deliver data at higher speeds. The Company's new network management portal, myKVH, is a secure portal that enables a ship operator to manage network usage by vessel or by individual crew members by allocating operational and crew data caps while receiving customized usage alerts. The Company provides fixed rate plans that vary depending on data speeds and include protocol restrictions, such as limiting those that stream video content. In addition, the Company offers multiple metered plans that are either billed monthly based on the data consumed without any application or protocol blocking or based on a monthly minimum data quota with the option to add more data for an incremental charge. The Company offers Ku-band mini-VSAT Broadband service in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Australian and New Zealand waters.
Advanced Media & Services
The Company offers a range of services to its maritime customers, as well as news content to its hotel customers and radio content to a small number of retail customers. The majority of services are subscription-based. The Company also offers a range of engineering and program management services to certain customers that purchase its guidance and stabilization products. Its news from home digital newspaper service includes approximately 100 daily newspapers in over 20 languages that are delivered to approximately 8,500 commercial ships, hotels and cruise ships. Customers that subscribe to one of the Company's entertainment packages receive a range of movie and television content that is cached locally onboard with unlimited onboard viewing for a year. The Company also offers a range of operational services through IP-MobileCast. As part of CHARTlink service, the Company transmits electronic chart updates for ECDIS solution providers Transas and Jeppesen. For its FORECASTlink service, the Company transmits forecasts and weather data. The Company's charting and weather forecasting services provide content for voyage optimization. In addition, the Company offers professional services for its VSAT products that include network design, installation of onboard TracPhone terminals and custom configuration of the CommBox based on customer requirements.
Guidance and Stabilization Products
The Company offers a portfolio of digital compass and fiber optic gyro (FOG)-based systems that address the requirements of military and commercial customers. The FOG products support a range of military applications, including stabilization of remote weapons stations, antennas, radar, optical devices, or turrets; image stabilization and synchronization for shoulder-or tripod-mounted weapon simulators; precision tactical navigation systems for military vehicles, and guidance for weapons and unmanned autonomous vehicles. The Company's FOG products are also used in commercial products, such as navigation and positioning systems for various applications, including precision mapping, dynamic surveying, autonomous vehicles, train location control and track geometry measurement systems, industrial robotics and optical stabilization. Its TG-6000 IMU is a guidance system that provides precise measurement of motion and acceleration in three dimensions. It uses a three-axis configuration of its FOGs integrated with over three accelerometers. The TG-6000 IMU is a component in the United States Navy's MK54 lightweight torpedo and is suitable for use in other applications that involve flight control, orientation, instrumentation and navigation, such as unmanned aerial vehicles. The CG-5100 is suitable for a range of applications, such as three dimensional (3D) augmented reality, mobile mapping, platform navigation, and global positioning system (GPS) augmentation for unmanned vehicle programs, mapping and imagery.
The Company's CNS-5000 continuous navigation system is a self-contained navigation system that combines its FOG-based inertial measurement technology with GPS technology from NovAtel. This navigation solution provides position and orientation of a host platform on a continuous basis, even when GPS signals are blocked by natural or man-made obstructions or conditions. The CNS-5000 is designed for commercial applications, such as dynamic surveying, mobile mapping, precision agriculture, container terminal management and autonomous vehicle navigation. The CNS-5000 is a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) product consisting of a FOG-based inertial measurement unit integrated with GPS within a single enclosure.
The Company's open-loop DSP-1750, DSP-3000 and DSP-4000 FOGs provide precision measurement of the rate and angle of a platform's turning motion. Applications for these products include inertial measurement units, integrated navigation systems, attitude/heading/reference systems, and stabilization of antenna, radar and optical equipment. The Company's DSP-1760 single-axis and multi-axis FOGs offer integration relative to the DSP-1750. The DSP-3000 and DSP-3100 offers a range of interface options to support a range of applications. The DSP-3000 and DSP-3100 are used in a range of pointing and stabilization applications, including the Unites States Army's Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) to provide the image and gun stabilization necessary to ensure that the weapon remains aimed at its target. The Company's 1750 IMU is an advanced 6-degrees-of-freedom sensor designed to integrate into the stabilization, pointing and navigation applications.
The Company's TACNAV tactical navigation product line employs digital compass sensors and KVH FOGs to offer vehicle-based navigation and pointing systems with a range of capabilities, including GPS backup and enhancement, vehicle position, hull azimuth and navigation displays. The Company's TACNAV Light is a digital compass-based battlefield navigation system specifically designed for non-turreted vehicles, such as high mobility multi-wheeled vehicles (HMMWVs) and trucks. The TACNAV TLS, a digital compass-based tactical navigation and targeting system, offers a FOG upgrade for turreted vehicles, including reconnaissance vehicles, armored personnel carriers and light armored vehicles. The TACNAV II Fiber Optic Gyro Navigation system offers a compact design, continuous output of heading and pointing data, and an architecture that allows it to function as either a standalone navigation module or as the central component of an expanded, multifunctional navigation system. The TACNAV 3D product is FOG-based and provides three dimensional navigation. The TACNAV 3D is fitted with an Iridium transceiver to transmit and receive vehicle position, waypoint and target location to or from a command center or other vehicle. The system also allows messages to be received from battlefield management systems.
The Company's navigation systems function as standalone tools and also communicate critical information from a range of on-board systems. The TACNAV can receive data from systems, such as the vehicle's odometer, military and commercial GPS devices, laser rangefinders, turret angle indicators and laser warning systems. TACNAV can also output this data to an on-board computer for retransmission through the vehicle's communications systems to a digital battlefield management application.
The Company competes with Intellian, Cobham SATCOM, Orbit Communication Systems, KNS, King Controls, Jotron AS, KNS Inc., Inmarsat, AddValue, Iridium Satellite LLC, Globalstar LP, Marlink, MTN/SeaMobile, Speedcast, Harris CapRock, King Controls, Winegard Company, Swank Motion Pictures, PressReader, Seagull AS, Honeywell International Inc., Northrop Grumman Corporation, Goodrich Aerospace, IAI, Fizoptica, SAGEM and Systron Donner Inertial.
50 Enterprise Ctr
The company trades on NASDAQ exchange. The company headquarter is located in Rhode Island, RI. The company was established in the 1978.| Ticker | KVHI |
| Long Name | KVH Industries, Inc. |
| Short Name | KVH Industries |