Cobbett Hill Earthstation Expands Satellite Services in EMEA with Purchase of Third iDirect Evolution Hub

HERNDON, Va., Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- VT iDirect, Inc. (iDirect), a company of VT Systems Inc. (VT Systems), today announced that Cobbett Hill Earthstation, an independent UK-based teleport operator offering a complete range of satellite communications services for business and government customers, is expanding its satellite infrastructure with the purchase of a third iDirect Evolution hub. The network expansion will allow Cobbett Hill to add new Virtual Network Operator (VNO) customers and meet increased demand for its services in EMEA. iDirect is a world leader in satellite-based IP communications technology.

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Cobbett Hill Earthstation will leverage a new iDirect satellite hub to expand its services in EMEA for VNOs, Internet service providers (ISPs) and enterprise and government customers. Cobbett Hill's largest customer segment continues to be VNOs in the maritime, mining, and oil and gas markets that use C- and Ku-band capacity for Internet-based applications as well as VoIP and video conferencing. The teleport operator purchased its first iDirect Evolution hub in 2007 and has grown significantly over the past three years, enjoying a 100 percent customer retention rate year-on-year.

Evolution's bandwidth efficiency gains enable Cobbett Hill to offer high-quality services at a lower cost to customers. Built-in features of iDirect's platform such as Group Quality of Service (GQoS) allow Cobbett Hill to manage customer bandwidth segments more efficiently, a critical requirement for overcoming bandwidth shortages in capacity-strained regions like Africa. Further, the ease-of-use of deploying iDirect hardware in the field makes it an attractive solution for Cobbett Hill's VNO customers.  

"We have had notable success using iDirect-based satellite infrastructure over the past three years; the platform has been a direct factor in our increased customer retention and rapid growth as a teleport operator. Evolution allows us to efficiently manage multiple bandwidth segments so we can keep our customers satisfied without having to constantly expand our satellite capacity or infrastructure to meet their demands."

~ Paul O'BRIEN

Managing Director, Cobbett Hill Earthstation

"It's crucial for teleport operators like Cobbett Hill Earthstation to be able to grow their business by adding new customers and expanding their services. By continuing to invest in iDirect, Cobbett Hill can ensure its services remain reliable and cost-effective, while broadening its reach from Africa to the greater EMEA region."

~ Steve TUNNICLIFFE

Regional Vice President, Europe, iDirect

Cobbett Hill Earthstation is an independent UK based Teleport offering a complete and full range of Satellite Communication services for the Business and Government Community. The Teleport has been located in/near to Guildford since 1996, less than 30 miles from London and operates a large number of antennas on a mix of geostationary satellites providing a wide range of satellite teleport services. The site is part of a 200 acre complex of antennas and industrial buildings with room for expansion and further growth. Continued investment in the teleport infrastructure and services means Cobbett Hill can offer secure, reliable solutions to all of its clients and its flexibility and technical expertise has resulted in significant expansion of services in the EMEA regions year on year. For more information, visit www.cobbett-hill.com.

iDirect, a subsidiary of VT Systems, is transforming the way the world gets and stays connected. The company's satellite-based IP communications technology enables constant connectivity for voice, video and data applications in diverse and challenging environments. The iDirect Intelligent Platform™ integrates advanced technology into iDirect's portfolio of hubs, routers and network management software to address the growing complexity of deploying and managing global IP networks. With more than 15 years of global satellite communications experience, iDirect serves customers in over 50 countries through a diverse network of service provider partners, including seven of the World Teleport Association's Global Top Ten operators. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, iDirect has offices in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America. In 2007, iDirect Government Technologies (iGT) was set up to drive adoption of its IP-based solutions in the US Government market. In 2008, iDirect Asia Pte Ltd was established in Singapore to enhance its value-add and responsiveness to customers in the Asia Pacific region.  Please visit www.idirect.net.

VT Systems is a diversified company providing integrated engineering solutions to the commercial and government markets in the aerospace, electronics, land systems and marine sectors.  VT Systems' innovative solutions, products and services include aircraft maintenance, repair and modification; software solutions in training and simulation; satellite-based IP communications technology; network solutions that integrate data, voice and video; rugged computers and computer peripheral equipment; specialized truck bodies and trailers; weapons and munitions systems; road construction equipment; and ship design and shipbuilding. Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., VT Systems operates globally and is a wholly owned subsidiary of ST Engineering.  Please visit www.vt-systems.com.

SOURCE iDirect