AVN.L Regulatory News (AVN)

12 Jun 2009 07:00



Date: 12 June 2009

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

Embargoed until: 0700hrs

Avanti Communications Group plc

Contract Win

Avanti Communications Group plc (AIM: AVN), the broadband satellite operator, has been awarded new projects funded by the European Space Agency (ESA). 

Avanti is participating in a study which will define a European Data Relay Satellite (EDRS) system. EDRS will provide communications services to future low earth orbiting earth observation satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles. The system will allow continuous reception of data by users on the ground. Currently most low earth orbit satellites transmit data when they pass over fixed ground stations - meaning communications are intermittent and non-real time. Avanti will investigate the accommodation of ESA funded EDRS payloads as a "piggyback" to one of its future satellites for one of the potential EDRS Operators, Telespazio of Rome.

Avanti is also participating in a separate ESA funded project with Global Invacom Ltd, which aims to develop an integrated Ka-band terminal to be used with HylasOne. The terminal will be used for the provision of satellite broadband services to the many millions of users in rural parts of Europe who are unable to access decent broadband connectivity.

David Williams, Chief Executive of Avanti, said:

"I am pleased to announce further collaboration with ESA.  These projects help us to drive forward applications for our capacity and make our technology more efficient. Given the importance now placed on satellite broadband in the Digital Britain plan it is very useful to have strong support from ESA in enhancing technology and business models further."

Enquiries to:

Notes to Editors:

About Avanti Communications

About ESA

The European Space Agency's purpose is to provide for, and to promote, for exclusively peaceful purposes, cooperation among European States in space research and technology and their space applications, with a view to their being used for scientific purposes and for operational space applications systems:

by elaborating and implementing a long-term European space policy, by recommending space objectives to the Member States, and by concerting the policies of the Member States with respect to other national and international organisations and institutions; 

by elaborating and implementing activities and programmes in the space field; 

by coordinating the European space programme and national programmes, and by integrating the latter progressively and as completely as possible into the European space programme, in particular as regards the development of applications satellites; 

by elaborating and implementing the industrial policy appropriate to its programme and by recommending a coherent industrial policy to the Member States.