A multi-million pound satellite fired into space today by the Avanti Communications Group will give hundreds of thousands of rural residents and businesses in Ireland access to broadband for the first time, claims the company. The satellite – called HYLAS 1 – is the first of its kind to be launched outside the United States and will lift off on an Ariane 5 rocket from French Guyana. With Ireland being a key area of focus, the most powerful of HYLAS 1’s beams will be trained on Ireland to maximise performance for Irish customers. Chief executive David Williams said, “This is a landmark day for the many consumers and businesses across Europe, who have been frustrated by lack of access to adequate broadband, it means that finally there is the opportunity to solve the digital divide. The launch of our satellite today means that access to broadband in remote areas is no longer on the distant horizon.” The entry level cost for consumers of satellite broadband of between 2MBs and 10MBs, will start from €25 per month.
The company, based in London, UK, is already developing a second satellite called HYLAS 2 which will be launched in spring 2012 and provide further coverage across Europe and a footprint in the Middle East and parts of Africa. The combined capacity of the two satellites will be one million consumers.
HYLAS 1 will be launched at 18.39GMT on Friday, November 26th, 2010 from French Guyana. The satellite was made by EADS Astrium and is being launched on Ariane 5 Rocket. The satellite will use KA-Band technology, a very high frequency radio spectrum. The overall cost of the satellite is £120 million and has been funded by investors as well as the European Space Agency and the UK Space Agency. The countries that will be able to get broadband access are: UK, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Albania, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Kosovo, Bosnia, Croatia and France.
Avanti’s partners across Europe can be viewed here: http://www.avantiplc.com/partners/view-our-partners

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