AVN.L Regulatory News (AVN)

Date: 3rd January 2012

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

Embargoed until: 0700hrs

Avanti appoints new non-executive director

Avanti Communications Group plc announces that Paul Walsh has joined the Board of Avanti as a non-executive Director with effect from 3rd January 2012. Mr Walsh is Chief Executive of Diageo plc, an appointment he took up in September 2000. He is also a non-executive Director on the boards of FedEx Corporation (USA) and Unilever PLC.

John Brackenbury, CBE, Chairman said: "We are delighted to welcome Paul to the Board of Avanti. An executive with his almost unrivalled experience and reputation at the top of British public life will add considerable value to Avanti's governance. We also highly value the breadth of Paul's international business experience, as Avanti is now exporting to more than 50 countries."

In the last five years, Paul Steven Walsh (aged 56) has held the following Directorships:

There is no further information on Paul Walsh required to be disclosed under Schedule Two, paragraph (g) (i)-(viii) of the AIM Rules for Companies.

---ENDS---

For further information please contact:

Avanti Communications Group Plc Tel: +44 (0)20 7749 1600

David Williams / Sean Watherston

Cenkos Securities plc Tel: +44 (0) 20 7397 8900

Nicholas Wells (Nomad) / Julian Morse (Sales)

Jefferies International Limited Tel: +44 (0) 20 7029 8000

Julian Smith / Thomas Rider

Redleaf Polhill Tel: +44 (0) 20 7566 6700

Emma Kane / Paul Dulieu

Notes to Editors:

About Paul Walsh

Paul Walsh is the CEO of Diageo plc. He was appointed to this position on the 1 of September 2000. Paul was chief operating officer of Diageo from 1 January 2000 to 31 August 2000.

Paul joined GrandMet's brewing division in 1982 and became Finance Director in 1986. He held financial and commercial positions with Inter-Continental Hotels and in the GrandMet food business, becoming CEO of the Pillsbury Company in 1992. Paul was appointed to the GrandMet Board in October 1995, and to the Diageo Board in December 1997.

Paul is chairman of the Scotch Whisky Association, and a non-executive director of FedEx Corporation Inc. and Unilever PLC. He was previously a non-executive director of Centrica plc, stepping down in May 2009. Paul is a former chairman of the court of governors of Henley Management College, and a member of the board of trustees of the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum. He is a member of the Prime Minister's Business Advisory Group. Paul was awarded the 'Decade of Excellence Award' at the UK National Business Awards in November 2008, recognising his success in building Diageo into a world renowned company.

About Avanti

·; Avanti sells satellite data communications services to telecoms companies which use them to supply residential, enterprise and institutional users.

·; Avanti's first satellite called HYLAS 1, launched on November 26th 2010 and is the first superfast broadband satellite launched in Europe.

·; Avanti's second satellite, called HYLAS 2, is on target for launch in Q2 2012. It will extend Avanti's coverage to Africa and the Middle East.