Broadband Satellite ISP Avanti Communications UK has announced that its new 10Mbps capable HYLAS1 (Highly Adaptable Satellite) spacecraft, which was successfully launched into orbit (space) around the Earth last month (here), has now had all systems turned on and all results are as planned.

The Ka-band satellite has reached geostationary orbit and the first transmissions have reportedly been received at Avanti's primary Gateway Earth Station in the UK. Avanti claims that HYLAS 1 is expected to achieve longer useful life than planned because of its fuel efficiency during transfer to geostationary orbit.

The ISP will now continue with a pre-service mission, which is using HYLAS to demonstrate certain capabilities that are relevant to future business, and then will prepare for the launch of commercial service in Europe and the UK towards the end of Q1-2011 (March).

It will also have an important role to play in helping the government to meet its 2015 target; delivering a minimum broadband download speed of 2Mbps to everybody in the country (USC). However a 2Mbps service on HYLAS1 is expected to cost about £25 per month, which is already above what some rivals are charging for faster 3.6Mbps and 4Mbps solutions.

Elsewhere another of Avanti's rivals , Eutelsat , plans to launch its competing 10Mbps capable KA-SAT Satellite on 20th December 2010 next week (here). We hope that Eutelsat is equally successful as it will serve to benefit competition in the UK and keep prices low.