Oil and Gas Industry Communications MSP RigNet Installs iDirect Satellite Hub to Expand Coverage

Managed service provider (MSP) RigNet, Inc. has installed an iDirect Series 15100 Universal Satellite Hub in Adelaide, Australia, to extend its offerings to Australia and the Asia Pacific region. The Hub is from VT iDirect, Inc. (iDirect) and will help RigNet to tap into a number of growing market segments.

RigNet focuses on the oil and gas industry, and will be able to better serve the onshore natural gas and oil exploration sectors as well as the energy, mining and maritime markets with the new Satellite Hub. The MSP plans to offer a managed service for land-based drilling applications, as well as remote connectivity to the greater Asia Pacific region.

The MSP previously installed a hub in the Middle East region to extend RigNet's VSAT coverage in the area and enhance its satellite service portfolio for customers in the oil and gas sector. The new expansion will be built on iDirect's Evolution iDX 3.1 software, which enables support of both narrowband SCADA and broadband applications on the same network.

The solution also lets service providers scale to tens of thousands of sites, and features the X1 remote. The remote is a low power, compact device that reduces the average power required for a satellite terminal by as much as 50 percent. An outdoor version of the X1 is also offered, and includes IP67 weatherproof casing, passive cooling, multiple power options and an extended temperature range.

"Our onshore customers have very distinct and demanding network requirements. They're running a mix of narrowband and broadband applications that extend across indoor and outdoor environments," said Rob George, general manager of the APAC region for RigNet. "iDX 3.1 provides us with the exact capabilities we need for these customers. And with iDirect, we can expand into new markets and geographies while managing our global portfolio over a single platform, which improves our flexibility and productivity."

RigNet's managed solutions include fully-managed voice and data networks, and advanced applications like video conferencing and real-time data centers. The MSP specializes in delivering managed communications offerings to remote sites in more than 30 countries on six continents, with a focus on the oil and gas industry. Coverage includes offshore and onshore drilling rigs, energy maritime and energy production facilities.

"It's exciting to see our partners capitalize on growth opportunities and reach new levels of service performance through our operating software capabilities," added Rob Kilroy, vice president of Americas for iDirect. "RigNet is making a strategic move into a fast growing market, and we are honored that they chose to expand over the iDirect Platform."