[Satellite TODAY 12-22-09] Avanti has secured a manufacturer, launcher and financing partner for its Hylas 2 satellite, the company announced Dec. 21.
        Orbital Sciences Corp. was awarded the contract to build the Hylas 2 geosynchronous communications satellite based on its StartM 2.4 platform. The satellite will be delivered to Arianespace for a scheduled launch in early 2012, according to a seperate contract announced Dec. 21.
        Avanti also announced that it has the financing in place for Hylas 2, with debt facilities of 194 million British pounds ($313.4 million) in aggregate provided by The Export-Import Bank of the United States and Coface, acting as a guarantor.
        Hylas 2 is intended to triple Avanti’s available satellite capacity after the launch of its first Ka-band satellite, Hylas 1, scheduled for the first half of 2010. The Hylas 2 spacecraft will be equipped with a steerable spot beam to provide data and video services to Northern and Southern Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

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