Cumberland Farms uses satellite to improve communications

Canton, Mass. Cumberland Farms is upgrading its data network to a hybrid satellite system.

The 500-store chain was using a very small aperture terminal network, a two-way ground station that uses a dish antenna, usually fewer than three meters in length, to support data, voice and video communications.

By partnering with McLean, Va.-based satellite-network provider Spacenet, Cumberland is transitioning its existing network to a hybrid VSAT and digital-subscriber line/cable/evolution-data optimized system. The SkyEdge VSAT platform quickens and improves performance for Web-based and back-office applications including credit/debit-card authorization, point-of-sale polling, human-resources software and inventory tracking.

“The upgraded satellite and hybrid network provides a simplified single-platform solution, faster speeds for Web-based applications, automatic and reliable network backup, and near 99.9% network availability, ultimately helping us better serve our customers at each location,” said John Carroll, VP information technology, Cumberland Farms.