25 Jan 2017 07:00
LAUNCH OF SERVICE
Eurona Launches New Service in Spain and Portugal after Agreeing Long Term Contract with Avanti Communications for Satellite Broadband Capacity across the Regions
5.5 million people across Spain and Portugal, who currently do not have access to broadband services of 10Mbps+, will benefit from Avanti's satellite connectivity covering 100% of the two countries
Avanti Communications Group plc ("Avanti"), a leading provider of satellite data communications services in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and leading international Service Provider, Eurona Telecom ("Eurona"), announced the full launch of service across Spain and Portugal after signing a 10-year contract1 with capacity from Avanti's HYLAS 1 Ka-band satellite to provide connectivity across Spain and Portugal. The contract will enable Eurona to grow its business and support Spain's broadband coverage goals set by the European Union in the Digital Agenda for Europe (DAE), as part of the Horizon 2020 programme.
The service delivers packages with speeds of 30Mbps using the new Jupiter 2 platform, which can support throughputs of up to 100Mbps. With extensive capacity of Spain and Portugal acquired by Eurona, and exclusivity of consumers in these regions, the leading Service Provider will be able to provide a more preferential service to new and existing customers. This includes providing more than 15,000 consumers across Spain and Portugal with a higher quality and more flexible service from 2017.
Consumers and businesses of all sizes across 100% of mainland Spain2 and Portugal will have access to a range of superfast satellite broadband packages based on Avanti services from its HYLAS 1 Ka-band satellite. With 3% of the Spanish population (~1.4m people) having no access to 2Mbps+ services and 12% (~5.5m people) having no access to 10Mbps+ services3, there is significant demand for Eurona's fast, ubiquitous satellite broadband services.
Thanks to Avanti's flexibility, combined with the power of the new Jupiter 2 platform, Eurona will have the capabilities to adapt and create the products and services to meet a range of needs according to market demands. It has been incremental to Eurona choosing Avanti's services at a key time like this in Eurona's growth, ensuring the service can be adapted to any kind of customer across the Broadband, Enterprise, Government or Carrier Services sectors.
Avanti and Eurona are now planning to extend their partnership and expand their geographic footprint into new territories, such as Central Europe and North Africa, with a similar offer to enable the population of these regions to have the same kind of service offered in some of Europe's fundamental countries.
Jaume Sanpera, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eurona, commented: "Our business strategy is to achieve high levels of customer satisfaction and consistent growth. A successful combination of Eurona's ambition and market knowledge, and innovative technology from established partners, such as Avanti, will help us to achieve this. We are excited to work with Avanti to connect customers more effectively across the region using its outstanding and highly flexible quality of service. To date we currently have 1000 sites connected via this platform which is a great achievement for Eurona and Avanti through this partnership."
David Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Avanti, said: "We are very encouraged by the growth in this business, which is consistent with our strategy of securing high value, long term contracts with leading EMEA Service Providers, and look forward to a strong and successful long term relationship. Eurona is a high quality partner and has now bought 100% of our capacity in Spain and Portugal. We look forward to generating growth together in new countries as well as bringing more capacity to Iberia with HYLAS 4."
For further information please contact:
Montfort: Nick Miles / James Olley, +44 (0)203 770 7909
Redleaf: Hannah Nicolas, +44 (0)207 382 4734
Cenkos Securities: Max Hartley (Nomad) / Julian Morse, +44 (0)207 397 8900
Notes to Editors
1. Contract signed in Q4 FY16
2. Also includes the Balearic Islands
3. 2016 broadband data from Spanish Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism:
· Spain has a population of between 46 million
· 3% (~1.4m people) have no access to 2Mbps+ services
· 12% (~5.5m people) has no access to 10Mbps+ services
About Avanti Communications
Avanti connects people wherever they are - in their homes, businesses, in government and on mobiles. Through the HYLAS satellite fleet and more than 180 partners in 118 countries, the network provides ubiquitous internet service to a quarter of the world's population. Avanti delivers the level of quality and flexibility that the most demanding telecoms customers in the world seek.
Avanti is the first mover in high throughput satellite data communications in EMEA. It has rights to orbital slots and Ka-band spectrum in perpetuity that covers an end market of over 1.7bn people.
The Group has invested $1.2bn in a network that incorporates satellites, ground stations, datacentres and a fibre ring.
Avanti has a unique Cloud based customer interface that is protected by patented technology.
Avanti Communications is listed in London on AIM (AVN:LSE).
www.avantiplc.com
About Eurona Telecom
Located in Barcelona, Eurona Telecom is a telecommunications company with three main business branches: WiFi in public areas, such as shopping centres, airports, and city halls; WiMax and 4G at Home; and satellites for businesses and consumers.
Eurona Telecom was founded in 2001 as a telecommunications network engineering firm. In 2006 it began providing Internet and telephone access services, and developed its own technology platform in 2012 and 2013. The group has a presence in 10 countries, with more than 40,000 clients, 20,000,000 WiFi users, and is listed on the Alternative Investment Market (MAB).
www.eurona.com/en/