CapRock Unveils NetSpot^™ to Oil and Gas Customers at Offshore Communications Conference 2008

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CapRock Communications, a global provider of satellite communications to remote environments, today announced the launch of NetSpot^™, CapRock’s newest value-added service offering for the energy industry. NetSpot is an on-demand wireless Internet service designed for rigs located in the Gulf of Mexico equipped with CapRock’s turnkey VSAT solution.

“Just like logging into a hotspot at your local coffee shop, NetSpot will provide the same ease of connectivity, even if you are onboard a rig thousands of miles offshore.”

NetSpot enables rig owners, rig operators and service companies alike to leverage the wireless hotspot found at the remote rig site for corporate requirements as well as the crew’s recreational use. While these market segments rely on the Internet for different needs, they share the common requirement for instant and easy broadband access.

There are no upfront infrastructure costs associated with the service. Any laptop equipped with a wireless card can easily connect to NetSpot. This added flexibility is ideal for service companies that require short-term connectivity, from a few days up to several months, and do not want long-term contracts for their communication needs.

“Having CapRock’s NetSpot onboard the offshore rigs we service gives our surveyors and engineers instant access to broadband Internet whenever they need it without having to enter into long-term contracts or pay upfront costs to have the capability,” said Fugro Chance CIO Jerry Greig. “It’s much more cost-effective for us as a company to have this ‘buy-as-you-need’ service at our disposal. It’s a benefit every company can relate to.”

In addition to providing short-term connectivity for business requirements, NetSpot also provides Internet access for onboard crews. Employees can send e-mails, download songs and share pictures with family and friends without impacting the business network. In a time where attracting and retaining a qualified crew is very competitive, the solution provides an easy method to deliver crew morale services.

NetSpot is a scalable solution designed to accommodate users with various needs. For individuals who may be at a site for shorter periods of time, NetSpot can be purchased hourly or daily, and online payments for the service can be conveniently made using a credit card. For companies expecting to have crew members onboard a rig for longer periods of time, a monthly subscription service can be purchased for an unlimited number of users. NetSpot can support simultaneous users, be accessed at any time, and is supported 24/7 by the NetSpot helpdesk.

“NetSpot is designed to make Internet access very accessible for anyone working at a rig equipped with our VSAT service,” said CapRock Director of Product Management and Marketing Rohit Chhabra. “Just like logging into a hotspot at your local coffee shop, NetSpot will provide the same ease of connectivity, even if you are onboard a rig thousands of miles offshore.”

About CapRock Communications

With more than 25 years of experience, CapRock Communications is a premier global satellite communications provider for the energy, maritime, engineering and construction, commercial shipping, mining and disaster recovery industries, as well as for government services. The Company utilizes the latest field-proven satellite technologies to deliver highly reliable managed communication services for broadband networking, real-time video and digital telephony to the world's harshest and most remote locations. CapRock delivers on its promise to be the market's reliability leader by leveraging "best of breed" partnerships, technical expertise and a robust global infrastructure that includes five international teleports and eleven regional support centers across the U.S., Central and South America, Europe, West Africa and Asia Pacific. More information about CapRock is available at www.caprock.com.