Exhibit 99

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Marty Jimmerson

RigNet, Inc.

+1 (281) 674-0699

investor.relations@rig.net

RigNet Announces First Quarter 2012 Earnings Results

HOUSTON, TX – May 9, 2012 – RigNet, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNET), a provider of remote communication services for the oil and gas industry, today reported quarterly results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. The Company uses certain non-GAAP measures, which are described further below, and are reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measures, after the presentation of our GAAP financial statements.

Revenue was a record $31.2 million for the first quarter, an increase of 27.6% over the same quarter last year and a 4.8% increase over the previous quarter. Revenue increased by $6.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to the same period of 2011 due primarily to increasing demand for our services in our offshore operations and continued growth in the U.S. land drilling market. Revenue increased by $1.4 million, or 4.8%, for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to the previous quarter due primarily to increased demand for our services in our offshore operations.

Adjusted EBITDA was $9.3 million, or 29.7% of revenue, for the first quarter, an increase of 40.7% over the same quarter last year and an increase of 1.7% over the previous quarter. Adjusted EBITDA increased by $2.7 million over the prior year period primarily due to the increased revenue described above partially offset by increased labor costs and efforts to strengthen our internal control over our financial reporting. Adjusted EBITDA increased by $0.2 million over the previous quarter primarily due to increased personnel and professional expenses.

Net income attributable to common stockholders was $2.4 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the first quarter compared to net income attributable to common stockholders of zero in the same quarter last year and net income attributable to common stockholders was $2.0 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, in the previous quarter.

Capital expenditures were $6.0 million in the first quarter compared to $4.3 million in the same quarter last year and $5.1 million in the previous quarter.

Mark B. Slaughter, chief executive officer and president, commented, “Our strong first quarter results reflect growth in both our offshore and onshore business areas, which are benefiting from positive market conditions and solid momentum coming out of the fourth quarter of last year. As compared to the same quarter last year, our first quarter’s record revenue showed increases in both sites added as well as revenue per site, the latter being delivered through bandwidth upgrades, additional services and improved secondary customer penetration. I was also pleased with our margin performance, reflecting our continued drive to improve productivity and the returns on capital investment.”

1880 SOUTH DAIRY ASHFORD, SUITE 300 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77077 PHONE 281.674.0100 FAX  281.674.0101 http://www.rig.net

A conference call for investors will be held at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (10:00 a.m. Central Time) on Thursday, May 10, 2012 to discuss RigNet’s 2012 first quarter results. The call may be accessed live over the telephone by dialing (877) 845-0777, or, for international callers, +1 (760) 298-5090. Interested parties may also listen to a simultaneous webcast of the conference call by logging onto RigNet’s website at www.rig.net in the Investors – Webcasts and Presentations section. A replay of the conference call webcast will also be available on our website for approximately thirty days following the call.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains the following non-GAAP measures: Gross Profit and Adjusted EBITDA. Gross Profit and Adjusted EBITDA are financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. We refer you to the Company’s most recent 10-K filing for the year ended December 31, 2011 for a more detailed discussion of the uses and limitations of our non-GAAP financial measures.

We define Gross Profit as revenue less cost of revenue. This measure is used to evaluate operating margins and the effectiveness of cost management.

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) plus interest expense, income tax expense (benefit), depreciation and amortization, impairment of goodwill, (gain) loss on retirement of property and equipment, change in fair value of derivatives, stock-based compensation and IPO costs and related bonuses. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss), operating income (loss) or any other measure of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

About RigNet

RigNet (NASDAQ: RNET) is a leading global provider of managed communications, networks and collaborative applications dedicated to the oil and gas industry. RigNet provides solutions ranging from fully-managed voice and data networks to more advanced applications that include video conferencing and real-time data services to remote sites in over 30 countries on six continents, effectively spanning the drilling and production industry. RigNet is based in Houston, Texas. For more information, please visit www.rig.net.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 – that is, statements related to the future, not past, events. Forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations and include any statement that does not directly relate to a current or historical fact. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “expect,” “plan,” “will” or other similar words. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that ultimately may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. For further discussion of risks and uncertainties, individuals should refer to RigNet’s SEC filings. RigNet undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after this press release. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

1880 SOUTH DAIRY ASHFORD, SUITE 300 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77077 PHONE 281.674.0100 FAX  281.674.0101 http://www.rig.net

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1880 SOUTH DAIRY ASHFORD, SUITE 300 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77077 PHONE 281.674.0100 FAX  281.674.0101 http://www.rig.net

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1880 SOUTH DAIRY ASHFORD, SUITE 300 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77077 PHONE 281.674.0100 FAX  281.674.0101 http://www.rig.net

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1880 SOUTH DAIRY ASHFORD, SUITE 300 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77077 PHONE 281.674.0100 FAX  281.674.0101 http://www.rig.net

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