Stratos Global, a provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, announced that it has started deploying its new StratosMAX II broadband service across the Gulf of Mexico “GoM.”

Stratos (News - Alert) delivers vital communications systems (VSAT, MSS and microwave) to the offshore energy industry in key regions around the globe, including the GoM where the company operates a comprehensive microwave network. The company’s extensive portfolio of remote communications solutions includes mobile and fixed satellite and microwave services.

The company’s microwave and VSAT networks provide offshore facilities with reliable, high-speed data for file transfers, voice, video conferencing, email, fax and web access - all of which combine to make the network an extension of the corporate office.

The StratosMAX II service provides high-quality connectivity back to the Internet, voice services, and corporate networks. It provides a VSAT-based, service-continuity feature. Its levels range up to 10Mbps and provide ultra-low-latency communications that are not available from VSAT alternatives, says Stratos.

According to a press release, the new StratosMAX II broadband service will bring reliable voice service, high-speed Internet connectivity, Stratos Hot Spot WiFi (News - Alert) service and a wide range of mobile communications applications to oil rigs, platforms, offshore vessels and professionals managing the Gulf Oil Disaster containment and cleanup efforts.

The Stratos microwave network in the GoM features multiple ring architecture, redundant beach crossings and enhanced systems for provisioning, service assurance and network monitoring.

Based on WiMAX (News - Alert) standards, the new StratosMAX II service provides last-mile radio connectivity. It connects customers back to shore via diverse shore crossings and onshore interconnection facilities of Stratos. The WiMAX technology is provisioned by Stratos over licensed spectrum across the GoM.

In addition, the IP-based StratosMAX II service is consistent with the high-bandwidth, low-latency features of Stratos' microwave services. It is competitively priced against VSAT and legacy radio technologies. Plus, data rates with this service are comparable to land-based DSL and cable-modem service.

According to Stratos, the low-latency feature of StratosMAX II service facilitates in the delivery of superior service quality and customer experience for lag-sensitive applications such as corporate VPN access, voice and video communications.

According to Stratos, it is deploying StratosMAX II to more than half of its planned sites in 2010 and will complete the initial deployment by the middle of 2011.

George V. Head, senior VP, broadband services, Stratos, said, "The introduction of StratosMAX II provides our customers with another significant advancement in GoM remote communications to complement the Stratos microwave network. The new service maximizes performance, flexibility, scalability and ease of use while minimizing communications costs for drilling rigs, platforms and offshore vessels."