[Satellite News 12-06-10] U.K. operator Avanti Communications has signed its third managed services deal since the launch of its Hylas 1 satellite in November. Under a three-year contract, Avanti will deliver Hylas 1 service to Network & Satellite Systems de España (Nassat), a Spanish company that will use the capacity to provide fixed and deployable satellite communications to the enterprise, broadcast and civil service sectors.
    Avanti, supported by the continued rise of public and private sector demand for cost-effective bandwidth, has wasted no time in capitalizing on its new resource, Avanti CEO David Williams told Satellite News. “We have fantastic support from politicians right across the spectrum. There are major telecoms companies in the United Kingdom moving forward with the procurement of capacity from Avanti. I think you will see Ka-band satellite services coming of age over the next 12 months and playing a full role in addressing the rural broadband market. The people that make up the silly stories that do us down will disappear into the background,” said Williams.
    Along with Nassat, Avanti has secured a $15.5 million deal with Iraqi VSAT satellite service provider TigrisNet to support services such as video conferencing and VoIP services as well as a five-year deal with British telco BT as part of a $208.2 million next-generation access project in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The agreement also allow BT to provide satellite broadband services to other parts of the United Kingdom at an estimated value of $1.9 million.
    While leading a satellite operator in its infancy, Williams has worked to establish a foothold in an industry dominated by a select group of international players. “I have learned that between many of the companies in this industry, there is a bond of trust and mutual support, given the risk profile and the nature of the collaboration we are obliged to do in spectrum and interference management and supporting manufacturers. So we take the long view and respect each other. We don’t engage in petty squabbles. We try and behave and act like responsible corporate citizens,” Williams said.
    With Eutelsat set to launch its Ka-Sat satellite by January, Williams said the sheer size of the satellite broadband market in Europe will take operators to the next level and beyond. “In the context of the market in Europe, Middle East and Africa, there is potential demand for 100 million end users. Avanti’s first two satellites plus Eutelsat’s satellite probably can’t serve more than a maximum of 2.5 million. The excess demand is vast,” Williams said. “There is relatively light competition that exists in our market. That is a fantastic thing for us. I think more companies will invest in this market over time. We will be moving forward very aggressively to get more satellite capacity and we will be pressing home our early advantage in this market globally.”