10 Dec 2008 07:00
Date: 10 December 2008
On behalf of: Avanti Communications Group plc ("Avanti" or "the Company")
Embargoed until: 0700hrs
Contract Win: Patented Disaster Recovery Product
Avanti Communications Group plc (AIM: AVN), the broadband satellite operator, has signed a contract to install its Business Internet Continuity (BIC) product with its first ISP, NetworkFlow, a specialist managed services provider of high-bandwidth connectivity services.
Avanti's BIC product is a global first, and as such has patent protection pending. The product uses a modified satellite broadband installation to provide disaster recovery data services which can restore a failed terrestrial internet circuit, if for instance a cable is cut by builders or fails due to an electronics fault. Moreover, IP addresses, such as those used to identify web sites and email servers are also instantly preserved to enable these key applications to keep working.
Prior to Avanti's invention, moving IP addresses took up to 48 hours - Avanti can now achieve the desired effect in a matter of seconds. Thus, companies which have large leased lines or mission critical cable broadband connections can for the first time get true physical diversity and never suffer a telecoms outage again.
Avanti estimates that the average customer experiences connectivity failure at least twice a year and the resulting loss in sales or productivity can run into many thousands of pounds. Avanti's internet circuit back up service costs just £50 per month.
The product requires a highly technical interface with the ISP providing the terrestrial internet circuit, so Avanti is pleased to have signed NetworkFlow as its first partner. The BIC product will be promoted to all NetworkFlow's internet customers and jointly to new customers.
David Williams, Chief Executive of Avanti, said;
"The global patent protection on this product means that Avanti may be able to open a new line of licensing revenue. But at minimum, within its European footprint, Avanti can now consider 100% of businesses as potential customers with the BIC product, not just those outside big cities. As a result of recent legislation, all corporate and institutional organisations are required by law to consider their disaster recovery plans. Avanti is the only company in the world that can provide a truly diverse and instantaneous satellite back up facility to an internet circuit at an affordable cost, and therefore has a massive opportunity. In this highly complex business area, I am pleased to be able to start working with NetworkFlow and their corporate clients, in what I expect to become a sensational new business opportunity."
David Alexander, Director of NetworkFlow, comments:
"This is a unique product in the market place which offers the true resilience required by companies of all sizes and across all market sectors. Most importantly, it's at a price they can afford. It's part of NetworkFlow's strategy of offering unique solutions to a fast changing market place."
Press enquiries to:
| Avanti Communications Group plc | http://www.avantiplc.com |
| David Williams | 020 7749 1600 |
| Redleaf Communications Ltd | avanti@redleafpr.com |
| Emma Kane/ Samantha Robbins/ Paul Dulieu | 020 7822 0200 |
| Cenkos Securities | |
| Ivonne Cantu / Julian Morse | 020 7678 8000 |
| NetworkFlow Press Office | 0845 052 4949 |
| Katie King | katie@2thefore.biz |
| www.networkflow.com |
Notes to Editors:
About Avanti
Avanti Communications Group plc is the only licensed Fixed Satellite Services operator headquartered in the UK (and one of only eight such groups operating in Europe)
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; the company plans further satellite projects
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
No further funding is required for the Hylas project following successful completion of a long term debt facility in July 2007.
The European Commission has set aside funding for rural broadband projects in 79 regions across Europe with a total value of €1.8 billion over the next five years.
About Network Flow
NetworkFlow is a specialist managed services provider of high-bandwidth connectivity solutions for the business market.
By using its own next generation data network for its business customers, NetworkFlow ensures that its customers achieve a high level of performance across all of their applications. The company manages and maintains both Internet access and MPLS networks and uses the lowest cost fibre providers for the local tail connections - it can therefore select the best of breed in any one area and provide truly resilient and robust solutions.
Competitive pricing has been key to its success to date. Its unique online quote engine - http://quoteengine.networkflow.com/networkflow/ - enables customers to compare prices from multiple T1 carriers and generate instant quotes - a first for the industry.