Avanti Communications to provide satellite capacity for cellular backhaul of UK Public Safety Network
The deal is almost certainly driven by EE’s contract to provide the main 4G LTE network for the UK Government’s £1 billion Emergency Service Network
Avanti Communications Group plc (“Avanti” or “the Group”), a leading provider of satellite data communications services in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, announces that it has won a contract to supply EE Limited with satellite capacity for cellular backhaul.
Avanti will connect a number of cellular sites across the UK to EE’s network using the HYLAS 1 and 2 satellites, to provide communications in remote areas and additional network resilience.
The first phase of this multiyear contract has an initial value of $29m, plus options to double the capacity.
David Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Avanti, said: “We have designed the HYLAS satellite fleet to offer the highest levels of network quality and flexibility, beyond the levels that have been previously available via satellite. This contract win demonstrates those qualities and affirms our ability to deliver at the highest level.”
Mansoor Hanif, Director of Radio Access Networks at EE, said: “We are delivering a highly resilient, truly nationwide 4G network and Avanti will play a key part in providing resilience and extending this network into rural areas.”
According to Wireless Mag, the deal is almost certainly driven by EE’s contract to provide the main 4G LTE network for the UK Government’s £1 billion Emergency Service Network, which will see 300,000 emergency services and other users move off the existing Airwave TETRA two-way radio communications network and onto EE’s 4G LTE network beginning in September 2017.