Case Study: RigNet achieves reliable, high-performance offshore connectivity and 90% smaller on‑prem footprint with Riverbed SD‑WAN

Offshore drillers need reliable connectivity and high network performance for critical applications—on the ocean and on land

RigNet, a Viasat company and managed‑services provider for oil & gas, partnered with a leading global offshore drilling contractor that needed reliable, high‑performance WAN for emergency communications, cloud services and crew connectivity. The customer faced costly downtime (up to $1M/day), limited and variable satellite bandwidth, tight rig space, complex country‑specific routing rules, and the need for visibility across a multinational operation.

RigNet delivered a managed Riverbed SD‑WAN service (SteelConnect EX, SteelHead CX and Riverbed SaaS Accelerator) over satellite, LTE and microwave links, consolidating routing, security, WAN optimization and SaaS acceleration into a single appliance. The deployment (completed in four months) delivered dynamic transport selection for consistent performance, a 90% reduction in on‑prem network footprint, zero‑touch provisioning and faster site onboarding (weeks to hours), plus centralized visibility and improved crew quality of life and operational agility.

RigNet

Daryn Richard

Head of Engineering