The UK satellite operator Avanti Communications has given a sneak peek inside the construction facility for its new HYLAS satellite, which is due to launch later this year. HYLAS is a key component in Avanti's plan to help the UK government deliver on its promise to make broadband speeds of 2Mbps available to everybody in the UK by 2012.


We recently completed our own interview with Avanti Communications regarding its future service plans, which also touched on the many cost and performance problems that hamper the technology and its ability to offer a truly affordable broadband solution to rural and remote areas of the UK.

Avanti UK Rural-Satellite Broadband ISP Interview:
https://www.ispreview.co.uk/articles/09_avanti_uk_rural_satellite_broadband_isp_interview/

Meanwhile there are growing fears that today's final Digital Britain report - due to be published at any moment - will place too greater emphasis on speed and not enough on service affordability and flexibility (usage allowances etc.).

In related news Avanti has been awarded an extension to the Broadband Reach rollout programme by the Scottish Government for a further 12 months. Avanti expects that the programme extension will generate an additional £500,000 of revenue over the contract period.


This extension comes following the successful conclusion of the initial Broadband Reach programme, in which over 2,200 homes and businesses across Scotland, which could not access terrestrial broadband, were provided with satellite broadband at speeds of up to 3Mbps. Avanti will continue to offer broadband services to these existing customers under the project.