Press Releases

RigNet launches first commercially available WiFi service for oil rigs

1st March 2008, Houston, Texas
RigNet WiFi HotSpot connects laptop users to the Internet

Houston, Texas, March 1, 2008 . RigNet, Inc., a leading global provider of managed communications solutions for the upstream oil and gas industry, is making it possible for offshore rigs to use wireless Internet access for personal or business reasons through its RigNet WiFi HotSpot, the industry.s first commercially available WiFi network service.

Already operational through network gateways installed in key locations throughout the world, rig workers and visitors can now bring their WiFi-enabled laptops to RigNet WiFi HotSpot rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, the North Sea region, and Asia.

Key benefits and advantages

RigNet WiFi Hotspot has partnered with Wifi-soft Solutions, a leading provider of software solutions for WiFi operators, to provide a number of advantages for the rig owners, oil companies and service companies:

• For rig owners seeking to improve quality of life on a rig to help retain employees, RigNet WiFi HotSpot provides a solution while restricting abuses and limiting bandwidth cost.
• Because RigNet WiFi HotSpot is available through rig living quarters, oil companies can provide wireless access to vendors without crowding the company office.
• RigNet WiFi HotSpot gives individuals who want Internet access for personal or business reasons.

Needs-based subscription plans RigNet WiFi HotSpot supports flexible rate plans which are especially well-suited for rig tenants spending several days on the rig and who want discontinuous internet access during their hitch. E-mail and toll-free 24-hour support is available to all users seven days a week. Coupons and prepaid access are options that can be added for companies that want to reward safety achievements or provide other employee incentives.

About WiFi Soft Solutions

Wifi-soft Solutions is a leading provider of software solutions to wireless ISPs and hotspot operators worldwide. It offers a hosted, pay-as-you-go and feature rich backend solution for hotspot operators and wireless ISPs that allows them to operate their WiFi hotspots from a single web interface. The solution includes hosted RADIUS servers, credit card billing, user provisioning, monitoring, centralized network management, CRM, captive portal pages, prepaid coupons and various reporting features. Besides software solutions, Wifi-soft also provides 24x7 end user support, managed services and technical consulting to service providers and hotspot operators. For more information, please visit http://www.wifi-soft.com.

About RigNet Inc.

RigNet, Inc. is a leading global provider of managed communication services exclusively to the upstream oil and gas industry. The company holds the prestigious Cisco Powered Network designation, meeting the most stringent standards for network reliability and performance, and was recently named one of America's fastest-growing private companies as ranked in Inc. magazine.s distinguished Inc. 500. RigNet has worldwide installations throughout 21 countries and six continents, spanning the global offshore drilling and production industry. Based in Houston, Texas, RigNet has offices in Louisiana, Brazil, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, UAE and the UK. For more information, visit http://www.rig.net.

For more information, please visit here.

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