Avanti Communications Share Discussion Threads

[goneawol] 30/11/2010 07:03

Contract Win

Avanti Communications Group plc (AIM: AVN), is delighted to announce that it has signed a 5 year agreement with Bt for the provision of satellite broadband services via its HYLAS 1 satellite, successfully launched into orbit on November 26th 2010.

Under this agreement, Avanti will supply satellite broadband services as required by BT as part of a recently announced GBP132 million next generation access project in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, of which BT is a major partner. The agreement is not limited to Cornwall, however and will allow BT to provide satellite broadband services to other parts of the UK. The estimated contract value is GBP1.2m.

The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly project expects to offer alternative technologies, such as satellite broadband, to the minority of homes and business in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly which remain unable to receive super-fast fibre broadband. It shows how the challenge of next generation broadband access in rural areas can be met and that a combination of technologies delivered by specialists, can ensure that the hardest to reach areas of the UK need not be left behind when it comes to high speed broadband.

Commenting, David Williams, Avanti Chief Executive, said:

"I am delighted that Avanti will be working alongside BT to ensure all residents of Cornwall will be able to connect to high speed broadband services. We firmly believe that our complementary business models will prove to be a vitally important example to the rest of the UK and Europe of how to solve the digital divide."

[sco77harris] 29/11/2010 22:46

sounds costly lol

[mickeytoon] 29/11/2010 22:43

The first stage and solid rocket boosters of the Ariane 5 fall into the sea after shut down and can be (but aren't commonly) recovered. The second stage goes into orbit with the payload. It will presumably eventually burn up during re-entry.

[sco77harris] 29/11/2010 22:11

can someone answer me this, it is really bugging me.

the launcher for the satellite arian 5 is this a launch vehicle that returns to earth after the launch or does it just get left out in space?

[2vdm] 29/11/2010 21:27

here's the main bit....
"Hylas 1 is the first superfast broadband satellite to be launched outside the United States and will be able to handle between 150,000 and 300,000 users at any one time through systems that automatically react to traffic demand by allocating varying amounts of power and bandwith to the different regions. It is estimated there are around 30m without an adequate broadband service in Europe.

David Williams, Avanti chief executive, said the launch of the satellite "means that access to broadband in remote areas is no longer on the distant horizon." About 25pc of capacity has been sold but it is expected to be three years before the satellite fills up.

The coalition government has inherited Labour's commitment to provide a universal broadband service to all parts of the country but to save money the project has been delayed until 2015.

BT has been attempting to fill some of the gaps with superfast fibre broadband. Eight Cornish villages and towns will have super broad band in less than five months as part of a £132m programme, funded by BT and the EU, creating 4,000 new jobs and safeguarding 2,000.

Avanti has beaten rival Eutelstat into space with satellite 36,000 miles above the earth's surface. It is at an advanced stage in the development of a second, expected to be ready for launch in spring 20112, to provide further coverage across Europe as well as the Middle East and parts of Africa."

[share_shark] 29/11/2010 21:07

Malaise grips markets.





Aim-listed broadband satellite operator, Avanti Communications, hurtled up 72p to 725p after announcing the launch of its HYLAS 1 satellite. Analysts at Daniel Stewart said the launch "effectively launches Avanti itself as a satellite- based communications provider rather than a start-up".

[share_shark] 29/11/2010 19:12

UK analyst tonight and among other comments is AVN

"Small Caps, AIM and PLUS

Avanti Communications* (AVN) shares rocketed 72p to 725p on news the broadband satellite operator's Hylas 1 satellite was successfully launched into orbit from the Kourou Space Centre on an Ariane 5 launcher last Friday. Commenting on this, chief executive David Williams said: "HYLAS 1 is a uniquely flexible satellite and we are now delighted to be able to offer broadband to communities, businesses and governments around Europe." As a result of the "removal of launch risk", Daniel Stewart reiterated its "buy" stance for the firm with a 1,111p target price.

[yorgi] 29/11/2010 17:23

Guildford Uni centre of excellence on Satellite technology.

[ib1905] 29/11/2010 17:04

Yorgi - just noticed you are in Farnham - we were in Brookwood last week visiting - don't suppose you were in Guildford Sat - law of chance says we sat next to you in some coffee shop =)

[yorgi] 29/11/2010 16:46

Yes your right Scott, so we had a pretty good day taking that into consideration

[wendsworth] 29/11/2010 16:43

yorgi : You're not wrong ref the timing of the power cut! Everything goes ...heating, telephones, cooking ...!!! As to AVN there could well be some more juice in the lemon but I've learned the VERY hard way not to be too greedy ..but it aint easy!

In the final analysis having 'preached' prudence on this BB I've had to demonstrate it!

For what its worth sold some CNE last Thursday having purchased the day prior on a T20! Considered an 18p profit to be worth taking and today the share price has dropped back on an RNS detailing Indian Govt delays . Apart from the general machinations of the market there's always som other factor that you haven't considered that comes back to haunt you!

Good luck. You've stuck with it and DESERVE a good profit on your holding.

[m.t.glass] 29/11/2010 16:38

10% is fine. Just need it to hold onto that ready for the broker upgrades on Wednesday afternoon ;o)

[sco77harris] 29/11/2010 16:29

The market is awful today, so i am sure it has reduced the rise slightly, 10%ish against the market today is great imo.

[m.t.glass] 29/11/2010 16:25

Bloomin cold everywhere in UK. With all this satellite technology I just want them to position one beyond the cloud edge where it can bounce a bit of sunshine underneath..

[yorgi] 29/11/2010 16:18

Share Shark......just blooming cold :-)

[yorgi] 29/11/2010 16:17

Wendsworth not the weather for power cuts, sorry to hear that :-) Whenever we buy sell is a personal decision based on many different factors which we all have to take into account.....300p profit on AVN is not bad at all.

I have to say thought we might have gone higher today and dropped back during the week. If they had hit 800p....well got to hope I would have sold a few bought on recent drop and hoped to get back in on drop.....well best laid plans and all that. But no intention of reducing main holding at all in the short term

[sco77harris] 29/11/2010 15:16

From siliconrepublic.com and before you jump all over this Superg1 - I don't envisage he is talking about this years EPS! Take a look at what has happened to AVN Share price since Friday and look at what has happened to your baby FUM - you like facts so face them - you've missed out on 20% in 2 days!!

......A businessman whose previous venture capital company delivered a 768pc return for investors could turn out to be the unlikely saviour of broadband in the Northern Hemisphere as his stg£120m HYLAS 1 satellite rockets into space tonight.

David Williams' Avanti Communications aims to deliver 10Mbps broadband to rural residents and businesses in Ireland and across Europe, the Middle East and Africa for as little as €25 per month.

Williams, whose previous venture capital company Active Media Capital wound down in 2006, delivering investors a 768pc return on investment, has listed Avanti on the London Stock Exchange and told Siliconrepublic that he believes it will be successful enough to enable the firm to enter the FTSE100.

The satellite – HYLAS 1 – is the first of its kind to be launched outside the US and will lift off on an Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana at 18.39 GMT tonight.

The most powerful of Ariane 5's beams will be trained on Ireland. The overall cost of the satellite is stg£120 million and has been funded by investors as well as the European Space Agency and the UK Space Agency.

"We already have satellites in the sky that are designed for TV and anybody else who provides satellite broadband either charges too much or it's heavily subsidised.

"We've been building two broadband satellites, the first one launches Friday and will be the first of its kind to be launched outside the US."

Williams explained that his satellite will use KA-band technology, which can provide higher speeds than TV satellites which use KU-band technology.

"KA-band brings all the benefits of speed and technology. You can get speeds of up to 200Mbps. We've chosen to buy in bulk modems that typically provide home owners or office users with 10Mbps at a rational price point. We will offer modems with higher speeds to government and enterprise users."

I asked Williams how soon a commercial iteration of the service will take to be put in place. "Testing will happen fairly quickly and we'll spend time experimenting with the satellite, deciding on power consumption, moving frequency around, deciding how much revenue is possible and pushing it to see if there's a higher performance possible from the satellite than it's designed to deliver."

Liftoff
Williams said that Avanti has already signed up a number of service providers in Ireland to deliver the service, which will cost around €25 a month. Across Europe, Avanti has signed partnerships with 60 telecoms companies.

Tonight, when the HYLAS 1 satellite lifts off on the Ariane 5 rocket, Williams will be present in French Guiana, at the European space port where he will have two duties – to give a speech and be pushed into a swimming pool.

Williams explained that Avanti was formed 10 years by himself and his business partner, astrophysicist David Bestwick.

Avanti, he said, is listed on the London Stock Exchange with a stg£750m capitalisation. "We have two satellites fully financed and the second will be launched in early 2012 to enable us to provide more capacity into the Middle East and Africa.

"Our intention is to finance and build more satellites to secure early mover advantage. If we get four satellites launched there's a reasonable chance of Avanti becoming a FTSE 100 company."

Williams is confident he can do it, and he certainly has the pedigree to prove it. "My earliest investments have made 15 times their money and the latest investment delivered a 50pc return in less than a year."

He concluded by saying that at present brokers are assuming Avanti will deliver €2 earnings per share. "But stg£40 could be achievable," he said.

[m.t.glass] 29/11/2010 14:03

Results out this Wednesday (not 10th Dec as previously indicated) will be accompanied by an analysts briefing at noon. I think we can reasonably presume it might be very well attended this time. And I guess that any other broker/analyst poised to issue an update and new price target today or tomorrow will now wait two days?

[the count] 29/11/2010 14:03

--->ALL

Sorry if posted before but I have not read the last 40 odd posts.

I thought this was interesting....

DJ MARKET TALK: Avanti To Rise On Satellite - Daniel Stewart

1044 GMT [Dow Jones] Daniel Stewart says the successful launch of Avanti Communications Group's (AVN.LN) HYLAS 1 satellite will boost the company's share price. Says Avanti is now a satellite based communications provider rather than a start-up. "We anticipate a consequent re-rating of Avanti's stock as a result of removal of launch risk," the broker adds. Maintains buy rating with 1111p target price. Shares +12% at 732p.


Regards,

THE COUNT!

[smarm] 29/11/2010 14:00

I wonder when they move from AIM.

S

[smarm] 29/11/2010 13:59

sandbank - you don't get the excitement here so you sold. Never wrong....but just promised me you won't put more into LLOY. ;-)

S