AVN.L Regulatory News (AVN)

4 Dec 2009 07:00



Date: 4 December 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 Euro 663,000, five year contract with Satconexion of Spain for broadband services on HYLAS 1, Avanti's satellite launching in 2010. Satconexion is already a customer for HYLAS services and has decided to lock in current pricing for a much larger volume of bandwdith, over a longer term.

Avanti looks forward to building a large business base in Spain with Satconexion by better serving large, existing enterprises and public administration customers, as well as enabling the delivery of competitively priced products aimed at residential users.

David Williams, Chief Executive of Avanti said;

"HYLAS is catering to large scale and under-served demand for more competitive and ubiquitous broadband in Europe. Satconexion shares our view that HYLAS will sell out quickly and, in more than quadrupling their commitment to lock in availability to support their expansion plans, they are delivering us a strong vote of confidence."

Enquiries to:

Notes to Editors:

About Avanti Communications

Avanti sells satellite broadband services to telecoms companies which use them to supply homes and businesses. 

Avanti's first satellite, called HYLAS is under construction and will be the first superfast broadband satellite launched in Europe. 

The market for 2Mb satellite broadband products in Europe is estimated at more than 70 million households. 

Avanti 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 set aside funding for rural broadband projects in 79 regions across Europe with a total value of EUR2.8 billion over the next five years. 

David Williams evidence to the Select Committee on Broadband can be seen at:http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=5033

  About Satconexion

Satconexion has been established for over ten years specialising in the supply of satellite internet connectivity to government, corporate and residential users. It has a distribution network of 50 specialised telecommunications and network dealers and integrators as well as over 400 satellite installation engineers covering Spain, Europe, Middle East and North Africa.