29 Mar 2017 07:00
Avanti Communications Group plc
("Avanti" or the "Company")
Avanti Communications announces a partnership with Millicom to bring connectivity to Sub-Saharan Africa
The partnership will deploy wireless services to rural communities using Avanti's innovative technology.
Avanti Communications Group plc, a leading provider of satellite data communications services in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), announced today a partnership with leading international telecommunications company Millicom, to bring broadband connectivity to consumer, enterprise and government applications. This will include the deployment of the Avanti ECO initiative across Sub-Saharan Africa, which will provide ECO Wi-Fi services to schools and communities, addressing the digital divide in the region. By combining Avanti's world leading satellite technology, with the market reach expertise from Millicom, the partnership will additionally commission a new Gateway Earth Station (GES) in Senegal.
Avanti will build a new GES and utilise Sen-Connect's soon to be launched Diamniadio Data Centre. Sen-Connect is a fully owned Millicom subsidiary in charge of managing this new data centre which is part of the master development plan of Diamniadio being pioneered by the Senegalese government. It is the first Tier III designed data centre to be certified by the Uptime Institute within UEMOA (West African Economic and Monetary Union). The development of this data centre will provide a growth platform of the highest quality infrastructure to support Senegal's ambition of providing world class enterprise services within the region.
The new GES will guarantee data security within Senegal and will provide secure, high-quality data connectivity for a burgeoning government, enterprise and retail customer base. The co-innovation of the major infrastructure will ensure that traffic generated through the upcoming launch of Avanti's HYLAS 4 Ka-band satellite, is managed in a secure and efficient way. The launch of HYLAS 4 will see Avanti complete its internet connectivity coverage across the entire continent, and together with Tigo Senegal, Millicom's operation in the country, and Sen-Connect, the Company will continue to address vital rural broadband connectivity applications in domains such as education and healthcare across Senegal.
Millicom and Wari Group signed on February 2nd 2017 an agreement for the transfer of Tigo Senegal - to Wari, who has endorsed this development with Avanti.
Continuing to improve broadband connectivity in the region, Millicom will support the deployment of ECO wireless base station sites across Sub-Saharan Africa with Avanti, providing rural schools and communities which have poor and no internet connectivity, with a quality and reliable broadband connection. The ECO Wi-Fi initiative, launched by Avanti in October 2016, consists of solar-powered ECO Wi-Fi hotspots which will be hosted at schools, which in turn will benefit from subsidised Internet access. Consumers and local businesses, within range of the ECO Wi-Fi hotspot, will use the ECO mobile payment app (newly developed by Avanti) to make micropayments for broadband credits which convert to data usage.
Mohamed Dabbour, Executive Vice President Millicom Africa said: "We are pleased to be partnering with Avanti to expand our activities in Africa. Our support to the GES will ensure provision of highly secure, quality data connectivity to government, enterprise and retail customers in Senegal. Working with Avanti to ensure its Ka-band services address the enormous potential in Africa, together with the ECO initiative is a great opportunity."
David Williams, Chief Executive Officer at Avanti Communications, said: "Avanti is pleased to partner with Millicom, who are well placed to support our infrastructure and deliver market access across Sub Saharan Africa for our products. In particular, working together on the ECO project to deliver satellite backhauled rural access is a significant opportunity."
--ENDS--
For further information please contact:
Montfort: Nick Miles / James Olley, +44 (0)203 770 7909
Redleaf: Lara Pyliotis, +44 (0)207 382 4763
Cenkos Securities: Max Hartley (Nomad) / Julian Morse, +44 (0)207 397 8900
Notes to Editors
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 Millicom
Millicom is a leading telecom and media company dedicated to emerging markets in Latin America and Africa. Millicom sets the pace when it comes to providing innovative and customer-centric digital lifestyle services through its principal brand, Tigo. Millicom employs more than 16,000 people and provides mobile services to more than 57 million customers, with a Cable footprint of more than 8.1 million homes passed. Founded in 1990, Millicom International Cellular SA is headquartered in Luxembourg and listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm under the symbol MIC. In 2016, Millicom generated revenue of USD 6.25 billion and Adjusted EBITDA of USD 2.22 billion.
About Wari
Incorporated in 2008, Wari is a digital platform offering value added financial and non-financial services to customers, businesses, Institutions and merchants.
Wari's innovative platform, available in more than 60 countries, 500,000 sending outlets worldwide and 45,000 paying points in Africa, provides a wide variety of products and services (water and electricity bill payment, pensions, scholarships and salary payments, TV subscription, airtime, lotteries, Wari payment cards, remittances, insurance, etc.) and accepts all payment means (cash, bank accounts, vouchers, cards, wallets, etc.).
Wari has partnership with 154 leading banks. More than 1,000 are connected to its digital platform.
Wari's objective, for Africa and abroad, is to promote financial and social inclusion for all, inside an open and integrated Wari ecosystem. . Wari is leveraging strategic partnerships, its strong last mile network, and its highly secure platform to provide affordable, simple and convenient services tailored to customers' needs.
Website: http://www.wari.com