KVH addresses trends for connectivity and content with IP-MobileCastTM

Superyacht professionals know firsthand the importance of broadband connectivity on board for everything from email access to troubleshooting of the yachts systems. In addition to connectivity, there is also a rapidly increasing demand for content on board. No matter where a yacht may be, the people on board want the latest news from home, sports coverage, blockbuster movies and favorite TV shows.

To meet the on-board need for connectivity and content, KVH Industries has introduced an industry first; a content delivery service called IP-MobileCast, which utilises multicasting technology to affordably deliver top content to yachts at sea via their broadband connection.

The IP-MobileCast content delivery service is designed for use with KVH’s mini-VSAT broadband network and KVH’s TracPhone V3-IP, V7-IP, or V11-IP satellite communications antenna systems. Launched in May 2014, IP-MobileCast enables mariners in the middle of the ocean to have affordable access to daily digital newspapers, sports updates, music, new-release blockbuster movies, and TV programmes via the multicasting service. Yachts subscribe to the news and entertainment content packages they want, but do not pay any data fees for delivery. Content is delivered over the top of the mini-VSAT broadband network so there is no charge for the delivery, only for the content itself. The multicasting transmission does not affect the yachts on board data speed.

In addition to news and entertainment content, KVH’s IP-MobileCast content delivery service also provides critical operations content to superyachts such as electronic chart updates, real-time weather data for voyage planning and training programmes to ensure all crew have the latest safety and training credentials.

Martin Kits van Heyningen, chief executive officer at KVH said, “The IP-MobileCast service is revolutionary in the richness of fresh content that can be delivered to mariners at sea, who up until now have not had access to updated news, sports, television, or movies on board their vessels. Now mariners in the middle of the ocean can experience an incredible amount of news and entertainment content the entire time they are at sea, and maritime operators can benefit from providing crew welfare services reliably and affordably.”

Brian Arthur, vice president of product development at KVH added, “We can provide content from anywhere in the world to a vessel anywhere at sea, and the user has an experience that is even better than that on land.

“On land, people have become accustomed to viewing entertainment content via a streaming device, which is subject to freezing or interruption. With the IP-MobileCast service, the content is broadcast over the KVH mini-VSAT Broadband network and stored on an on-board server, so everyone watching it is viewing something locally, with no streaming interruptions. The reaction we have had from our beta testing users has been fantastic.”

For more information,visit KVH Industries