Avanti Communications Group Wins Ten Year Contract

7 June 2010

Avanti has signed a ten year contract for the sale of 100Mb of services on HYLAS 1 to a new customer who will deliver Triple Play (broadband, TV and voice over IP) to consumers in the UK and Ireland. In addition to high speed broadband, consumers will be able to receive a bouquet of scheduled, broadcast TV channels over HYLAS 1, in the style of current free to air terrestrial services. With volumes increasing up to 100Mb over the initial five years, the contract will generate a minimum of €12.7m in revenues for Avanti. 

For commercial competitive reasons Avanti cannot disclose the customer's identity, but can confirm it is an established and successful European satellite services provider with significant existing presence in the markets concerned. 

Commenting, David Williams, Avanti Chief Executive, said:
"This contract brings us important new volume in satellite broadband distribution, but its main significance is in the Triple Play offering which we believe will further drive uptake of our broadband services. The TV business is highly competitive, but the niche we will operate in with our partner is not. We will be focusing on providing a free to air broadcast television service over Ka band satellite broadband which is aimed at consumers in rural areas who will lose services as a result of the switch off of analog terrestrial television signals in the next two years. Thus, consumers will receive the traditional style of broadcast TV channels over the same dish and modem that they use to access broadband. In time, our offering may expand to include subscription channels. 

"Ka band spot beam satellites are very well suited for the provision of small regional local language television platforms, as has been demonstrated in the USA. The combination of Broadband, TV and Voice over IP is a model we believe will work in all of the countries served by the HYLAS fleet, solving problems for governments and communities the World over."