Avanti CommunicationsLtd provides satellite based telecommunications services through its HYLAS fleet. The company’s unique Ka-band technology for providing high speed data communications supports several times more data than lower frequency satellites and allows connectivity to even the most remote and hard-to-reach regions and scenarios.
Avanti Communications Ltd was formed in 1995, with the objective of developing operational applications of advanced communications services. Avanti has consistently demonstrated an ability to get ground breaking research and development innovations “off the page” and into commercial service and has been successful commercialising new concepts.
In 2006, Avanti received a licence from Ofcom to operate satellite communications, becoming the first new British commercial satellite operator since the 1980’s. Avanti has now financed a fleet of high throughput Ka-band satellites that provide coverage for 27% of the world’s population. Avanti’s first satellite called HYLAS 1, was launched in November 2010 and was the first superfast Ka-band satellite launched in Europe. HYLAS 1 provides two-way coverage across Europe. Its second satellite, HYLAS 2, was launched in August 2012 and extended Avanti’s coverage to Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). HYLAS 3 and HYLAS 4 will extend coverage further when they are launched in 2018.
Avanti Applied Technologies (ApTec), the business unit that will undertake the HEIMDALL project, performs research projects with the goal of identifying and commercialising new services and applications. ApTec has successfully delivered various Innovate UK, UK Space Agency (UKSA), European Space Agency (ESA) and European Commission (EC) funded projects both as a partner and coordinator. In addition to R&D activities, Avanti brings the relevant commercial experience in exploiting the unique advantages of satellite telecommunications in supporting disaster monitoring, management and response, as well as expertise in design and development of applicable operational software systems.