Broadband Satellite Operator Avanti Wins Extra UK Government Funding

The UK Space Agency, an executive agency for the governments Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), has awarded £1.1 Million from its new grant funding of £6 Million to broadband satellite operator Avanti Communications.

The government anticipates that its investment will be used to support new British research that aims to develop new commercial products and services using space technology and data from space-based systems. For Avanti this means leading a consortium of five UK industry partners to develop a “rugged and lightweight portable satellite terminal“, optimised for Avanti’s Ka-band HYLAS fleet of satellites.

This portable terminal will apparently provide “high speed broadband access“, 3G mobile connectivity and satellite navigation services for nomadic users (including emergency services, crisis management teams, journalists and the military).

David Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Avanti, said:

“We are delighted at the award of this grant, which recognises Avanti’s technical expertise and the increasing importance of Ka-band in specialised applications.”

Separately Avanti, which successfully launched its first ‘up to’ 10Mbps capable HYLAS 1 (Highly Adaptable Satellite) rural broadband spacecraft in November 2010, is still aiming to launch its significantly more powerful HYLAS 2 satellite during late spring (Q2-2012).