The construction of a new HYLAS 4 satellite gateway station in Dakar, Senegal, has been finished by Avanti Communications, which marks the completion of the second phase of the project.
The new Ka-band antenna, which is 9.2 metres in diameter, stands 14 metres tall and weighs 17,000 kilogrammes, was constructed in a facility in the United States for more than a year before it was brought to Dakar.
Broadband assistance is provided by the new antenna system, which helps to deliver backhaul and large-scale connectivity for telecommunications and government agencies. Investment, the development of skills, and the supply of connectivity services will be provided for Senegal and the regions that surround it as a result of this investment. This investment provides additional assistance for the Digital 2025 plan.
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Countries that can use HYLAS 4 satellite
Free in Senegal, which is Avanti’s local gateway partner, will provide hosting and operational support for the new gateway from the Tier III data centre facility that it operates in Diamniadio.
Senegal and the other West African countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Gambia, Liberia, and Ivory Coast will all be able to make use of the coverage provided by Avanti’s HYLAS 4 satellite thanks to the newly constructed gateway. This will result in a large increase in the number of schools, hospitals, and communities across the countries that have access to high-speed satellite internet. Customers who are carriers will also have the ability to extend their reach into rural areas and other semi-urban locales. This is beneficial because terrestrial networks in these areas are either inadequate or unreliable.
Remarks from Avanti’s CEO
Kyle Whitehill, CEO at Avanti, said: “Completing phase two of this project is a huge achievement for everyone involved. To date, Avanti has connected more than 1,000 villages and schools across Africa and we have ambitious plans to connect a further 10,000 sites over the next 5 years. This gateway is crucial to help us achieve that goal. I want to extend a special thank you to our strategic partner Free in Senegal, who have been instrumental in the project’s success to date.”
More Information Regarding Avanti
The company was established in 1996, and the current location of the company’s headquarters is in London, which is located in the United Kingdom. The Avanti Communications Group PLC is the parent company, and Avanti Communications is one of its subsidiaries. In Italian, the phrase “move forward!” is translated as “avanti.”
In the United Kingdom, the West Coast Partnership is managed by Avanti West Coast, a railway operating business that is jointly controlled by FirstGroup (with a 70% stake) and Trenitalia (with a 30% stake).
The communications sector in EMEA recognises Avanti Communications as the premier Ka-band high throughput satellite capacity partner. As such, Avanti Communications is able to extend and guarantee coverage for defence missions, enterprise solutions, and essential public services.
With immediate effect, Andy Mellors will take over as managing director of the train operator Avanti West Coast. Andy has a history of holding high posts, most recently serving as the managing director of FirstGroup’s non-franchised rail enterprises. Earlier in his career, he worked for Great Western Railway and South Western Railway.
In addition to being a fellow at Ashoka, Akshay Saxena is also the co-founder of Avanti Fellows. As a result of the work he did for Avanti in 2012, he was given two fellowships: one from Draper Richards Kaplan and another from Echoing Green.
Avanti provides dedicated fixed and flexible-beam satellite communication with significant coverage across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This service is made possible through the company’s HYLAS satellite fleet and partners in 118 countries.
In order to create a network that combines orbital slots in the Ka-band spectrum with satellites, ground stations, datacenters, and a fibre ring, Avanti has made an investment of $1.2 billion.
The filings from Companies House also reveal that Avanti’s revenue climbed from £894.8 million to £978.2 million in 2023, but the company’s after-tax profits decreased from £16.6 million to £12.3 million.