Telecommunications Industry News

Norwegian shipbuilder Vard has delivered IT Infinity vessel to I.T. International Telecom Marine (IT), after completing its conversion from Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) to specialized Cable Laying Vessel (CLV).Built at Vard Brattvaag and delivered to Volstad Maritime in 2008 as the Volstad Princess, the vessel has changed ownership several times.SD Standard Drilling acquired the ship in 2017, before it was sold to IT in 2021 and renamed IT Infinity.In 2024, the vessel returned to VARD for an extensive conversion…

KVH Industries, Inc., announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Brent C. Bruun as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board. The Board also appointed two seasoned industry executives, David Kagan and David Tolley, as directors of KVH.Bruun first joined KVH in 2008 and has served as KVH’s Interim President and Chief Executive Officer since March 2022. He also served as Chief Operating Officer of KVH beginning in 2016, as well as Interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

In the next few years, demand for bandwidth on the high seas will grow, in no small part due to technology that is making operations more efficient and keeping crews and passengers healthy, happy and connected. Just a few years ago, a cruise-going family might have brought a single laptop computer and maybe a cell phone aboard. Today, cruise companies find that the average family shows up with 10 connected devices. And within the commercial maritime sector: crew members, away at sea for months at a time, are hungry for a robust connectivity experience to stay in touch with family and friends.

Statoil has chosen Maritime Communications Partner (MCP) to deploy and operate its high speed 4G-network on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). Statoil and MCP have signed a six-year contract with an option to extend for another four years. With that, MCP will immediately start building the world’s largest 4G network at sea. Statoil will benefit from high-speed mobile coverage on all of its 34 platforms on the NCS. This will improve communications between platforms, rigs and supply-vessels.

Frank Foti of Vigor Industrial has steadily embarked on a consolidation of the Pacific Northwest ship construction and repair industry. Starting in Portland in 1995 with about 50 employees, the ubiquitous owner of Vigor has built his business today to more than 2,000 employees in an ever-widening industrial group. During a recent visit to Seattle, he shared insights on his company and the market. “Vigor is a diversified marine and industrial fabricator and it is a ship repair specialist,” is how Frank Foti, the owner of Vigor Industrial for nearly 20 years, concisely describes his company.

Intelsat’s Board of Directors elected Dave McGlade, currently Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, to the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2013. Mr. McGlade has served as the Company's Chief Executive Officer for eight years. Mr. McGlade has appointed Stephen Spengler to the position of President and Chief Commercial Officer, effective March 18, 2013, a new role for the Company. Mr. Spengler has been with Intelsat in various executive positions since 2003, most recently serving as Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Strategy. Mr.

The Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) Board of Directors has named Debra A. Colbert as Senior Vice President, effective June 1, 2012. Colbert currently serves as Director of Communications and Media Relations for the organization and has served with WCI since its inception in 2004, developing the communications program of its predecessor organization, Waterways Work! Prior to her work with WCI, Colbert served as President of Colbert Communications, a communications consultancy practice that offered media relations…

MTN Satellite Communications (MTN) said that Errol Olivier was appointed President and CEO. Olivier most recently served as the company’s President and COO. Olivier has over 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. Prior to joining MTN, he served as President and CEO of Broadpoint and President and COO of CapRock Communications. He is also recognized for pioneering the first commercial multi-tenant satellite telecommunication strategy for the oil and gas industry in the Gulf which revolutionized the way Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) services were delivered to the offshore energy market. In addition to Mr. Olivier’s appointment, Joe Wright, who served as MTN’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, is now Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr.

2% (or $1.3 trillion)* of World GDP is accounted for by the mobile telecommunications industry. By comparison, the minute fraction of this that the marine radar industry accounts for has probably not been discovered yet. So what chance does radar have against such overwhelming authority, or should we say, financial might? Marine radar operates in two main frequency bandwidths, 3GHz and 9GHz. The mobile phone and wi-fi industries also like the 3GHz arena, and have their frequency allocations virtually adjacent to our very own S-Band radar, and therein lies the problem.

Netanya, Israel, March 14, 2011 – ORBIT Communication Systems, Ltd., a Satellite Communications, Tracking & Telemetry, and Communications Management Systems provider, today announced that it has appointed new regional sales directors in Europe and Latin America for its Satellite Communications (SatCom) Business Unit. Mr. Michel Rieken has joined ORBIT Communication Systems Europe as Director of Sales and Business Development. Having worked over 20 years in the telecommunications industry, including 12 years in satellite communications, Mr.

Seven directors were elected to the Board of the UK P&I Club at the AGM in Bermuda on October 26th. Jason Liberty, Vice President of Strategy, Corporate Planning & Insurance Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd is responsible for his company’s corporate finance, strategy, M&A, forecasting & planning, insurance and continuous improvement group. A former advisory director with KPMG LLP, Liberty joined Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd in 2005. Harley Franco, Chairman and CEO, Harley Marine Services…

Pal Jensen was named president of Caprock Communication’s Maritime Division. Jensen, a telecommunications industry veteran, moves into this role from his former position as the company’s vice president of Maritime Sales. In his new role, Jensen will oversee all aspects of the Commercial Maritime Division, including sales, solution design, and global service and support. Jensen replaces Tore Hilde who was the former president of Maritime.

CapRock Communications, a global provider of satellite communications to remote environments, has expanded its presence in Asia Pacific by opening a new regional office in Singapore. The expansion increases CapRock’s capability to provide systems integration (SI) services and turnkey satellite communication solutions to energy, maritime and mining clients operating in the region. “CapRock’s clients are continuing to strengthen their operations in Asia,” said CapRock Vice President and General Manager, Southeast Asia, Ian Ford. Today CapRock owns and operates an international teleport and support center in Jakarta, Indonesia that serves the Far East, Asia and Pacific Basin.

Telecommunications industry veteran Lawrence R. Fyock has been appointed vice president sales for MariTEL. Launched in June 2001, MariTEL’s new Marine Wireless VHF Radiotelephone Network and Digital Selective Calling (DSC) currently covers the Gulf of Mexico and lower Mississippi River. Fyock’s will be responsible for MariTEL’s sales activity as the Network expands nationwide over the next few years. Fyock has over 19 years experience in telecommunications. He was most recently vice president ofsales and marketing for Digital Access, Inc. a facilities-based voice, video and data provider. Fyock was also a district director and vice president of sales and marketing for Sprint PCS, where he developed sales and marketing programs for the nationwide wireless provider.

CapRock Communications has appointed Bryan Olivier as the company's chief operating officer. Olivier, a telecommunications industry veteran, moves into this role from his former position as the company's chief technology officer. In the COO role, Olivier's responsibilities will include consolidating operations, information technology, project management, engineering and supply chain management into a single global platform. This approach will permit the company to continue serving customers by enhancing its comprehensive communications solutions, which include seamless service, support and technology integration around the world. Responsibilities of the chief operating officer were previously held by Errol Olivier, who is retiring after nearly seventeen years of service with the company.

Northrop Grumman Corporation has reported net income from continuing operations of $141 million for the 2002 third quarter, or $1.17 per share, on 115.2 million average diluted shares outstanding, compared with adjusted net income from continuing operations of $140 million, or $1.56 per share, on 86.4 million average diluted shares in the year ago period. These results are adjusted to exclude amortization of goodwill in 2001 in accordance with SFAS No. 142 - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. On an economic earnings basis, Northrop Grumman's 2002 third quarter earnings from continuing operations increased to $154 million, or $1.28 per share, compared with $100 million, or $1.09 per share, for the comparable period in 2001.