AVN.L Regulatory News (AVN)

4 Feb 2009 07:00



Date: 4 February 2009

On behalf of: Avanti Communications Group plc ("Avanti" or "the Company")

Embargoed until: 0700hrs

Avanti Communications Group plc

Avanti Communications Group plc (AIM: AVN), the broadband satellite operator, has signed a contract to supply wholesale broadband services to Digisat Media S.A of Spain. Digisat Media is a well known satellite services provider focused on helping to solve the digital divide in Spain and other parts of Europe. As a wholesaler (the entry level of contract for Avanti's services), Digisat Media has made a minimum order commitment of €100,000 but we expect to generate much higher volumes than this minimum commitment in the very attractive Spanish market. Digisat Media will begin to buy Avanti's products immediately, transferring customers to HYLAS on launch.

David Williams, Chief Executive of Avanti, said:

"We are very pleased with our accelerating momentum in signing yet another distribution partner in Spain, which gives us confidence in meeting our pre-sales objectives. We now have 30 distribution partners in 10 countries in Europe with levels of commitment ranging from €100,000 to £9 million. Digisat Media S.A is a well established and respected company in our industry and we are delighted they have chosen our product."

Enquiries to:

Notes to Editors:

About Avanti Communications

Avanti is Europe's first broadband satellite operator;

Avanti sell satellite broadband services to wholesale customers targeting consumer, enterprise and institutional markets.

Avanti's first satellite, called HYLAS is under construction and due for launch in 2009 

Avanti, which has more than 10 years' experience in the satellite industry, currently provides satellite broadband services to customers in Europe using leased satellite capacity which it will transfer to HYLAS on launch

The European Commission has provided funding for rural broadband projects Europe with a total value of €2.8 billion over the next five years.

About Digisat Media S.A.

Digisat Media is a licensed Telecommunications Satellite Operator by the CMT (National Telecommunications Commission). Its principal objective is to reduce the digital gap by offering broadband satellite services wherever broadband is needed. It supplies services to all industrial sectors that require broadband connection via satellite, including traditional services like Broadcast and Multimedia within the professional sector.