[Satellite TODAY Insider 11-30-10] Avanti Communications could commission two new communications satellites in 2011, Avanti CEO David Williams told Satellite TODAY Insider.
    The company’s Hylas 1 satellite was placed in orbit Nov. 26 by Arianespace, and Avanti hopes to launch Hylas 2 in 2012. “We are currently conducting a process to procure at least one more satellite, possibly two. We have some potential customers that are interested in the resulting bandwidth, and we are in the process putting together a deal with pre-sales customers to support efficient financing.”
    While the demand for Ka-band satellites is growing, Williams said the operator only move forward only with projects that are, “justifiable on rational financial grounds and are procured with the right companies. We are not going to take any silly risks. Given these activities, it is likely we would move forward with at least one new satellite in 2011. It is also worth noting that it is the same amount of work to finance two satellites than it is one satellite.”
    To finance the new satellites, Williams said Avanti will take a considered approach. “We are not going to jump into something just because there is a moment of liquidity. As it happens, the debt markets appreciate the great benefits of a satellite business model. It is a relatively light investment compared to the cash it generates.”
    Williams hopes the satellite industry will consider the launch of Hylas 1 as Avanti’s emergence into the international satellite market, backed by the company hitting pre-launch sales targets at 25 percent of the spacecraft’s capacity. “We have a number of customers who I believe will now sign further contracts. In total, we have got enough customers to pull it off. The stock market has targets for Hylas 1 to be filled within three years. I am very confident that we can achieve that,” he said.

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