AVN.L Regulatory News (AVN)

23 Apr 2009 07:00



Date: 23 April 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 signed a contract with Laban Communications Limited to supply broadband products around Europe, with an initial value of £100,000 in the next two years and expected to grow strongly.

Laban Communications Ltd is one of the most experienced satellite integration companies in Europe. Based in Serbia, it was established in 1989 and was built on experience over the previous decade working with the early satellite operators. Laban provides installation and maintenance for large corporate and government networks, as well as individual sites. To date it has provided over 3,000 installations across Europe, Russia and Africa.

David Williams, Chief Executive of Avanti, said:

"I am always pleased when international industry experts like Laban select our products. Avanti's new technology has massive competitive advantages and with 43 distributors we are well on the way to filling HYLAS.

"We also welcome the announcement in yesterday's Budget that the recommendations of Lord Carter's Digital Britain Report will be financed to ensure ubiquitous 2Mbps broadband coverage nationwide. Avanti's HYLAS satellite was designed with this requirement in mind, and partially financed with great foresight by Avanti's government sponsors the British National Space Centre and the Technology Strategy Board."

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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 due for launch in 2009; it will be the first broadband satellite launched in Europe.

The market for satellite broadband products in Europe is estimated by the EU at more than 24 million.

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 €2.8 billion over the next five years.