May 12, 2009

RigNet, Inc., a leading independent provider of remote communications and collaborative applications to the global oil and gas industry, today announced that Mark Slaughter, CEO and president, is a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year^® 2009 Award in the Houston & Gulf Coast Area Program.  According to Ernst & Young LLP, the awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate extraordinary success in the areas of innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.  Mr. Slaughter was selected as a finalist from nearly 550 nominations by a panel of independent judges.  Award winners will be announced at a special gala event on June 18, 2009 at the InterContinental Houston Hotel. 

"I am honored to have been named a finalist for this prestigious award, which truly is in recognition of the dedicated efforts by all RigNet employees worldwide who daily meet the mission critical remote communications needs of our oil and gas customers," said Mr. Slaughter.  RigNet was founded in 2001 by four Norwegian entrepreneurs whose vision was to standardize remote communications on offshore drilling rigs.  From that initial start, the Company has become a leader in providing remote communications solutions to offshore and onshore drilling rigs around the world as well as collaborative applications to oil and gas operators and their counterparties through a private extranet known in the industry as SOIL (Secure Oil Information Link).

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year^® awards program celebrates its 23^rd anniversary this year.  The program has expanded to recognize business leaders in over 135 cities in 50 countries throughout the world. Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur Of The Year national program.  Award winners in several national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California on November 14, 2009.  The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation's most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.

Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur of the Year awards are pleased to have the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and SAP America as national sponsors.  In the Houston & Gulf Coast Area, sponsors include Bowne, Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., Lockton Companies, LLC and Smart Business Magazine.

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 named one of America's fastest-growing private companies as ranked in Inc. magazine's distinguished Inc. 500.  RigNet has worldwide installations throughout 34 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, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.  For more information, visit http://www.rig.net.

About Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards Program
Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year^® Award is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs.  The award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement.  As the first and only truly global award of its kind, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year^® award celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.