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Avanti to bring affordable broadband to rural Africa following space agency deal

The European Space Agency (ESA) is to provide up to €10.7m (approx. £9m) in funding to support London-headquartered Avanti Communications project to bring affordable broadband to sub-Saharan Africa.

Avanti is launching its solar-powered hotspot programme, dubbed the ECO Wi-Fi Hotspot, today, which it plans to install in schools across 1,400 sites to provide rural African communities with access to subsidised internet access.

The communications firm plans to roll out the technology over the next two years, and has signed a raft of agreements with government agencies, private firms and commercial partners, including the South African Ministry of Communications and the Tanzania Education Authority.

Avanti is partnering with European satellite business Newtec, along with its service partners to deliver the programme to market, which will allow users to access the internet through the ECO mobile payments app.

David Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Avanti, commented: “Through product innovation and a partner strategy we have found an economically viable way to deliver broadband to low income customers in rural Africa.

“Working with governments and local service providers, and with support from ESA, this first project is a significant step towards creating something that will address a need across the entire continent.”

The ESA funding contract is part of the Agency’s ARTES Partner programme, which supports innovative satellite communication products and helps them get to market through public-private partnerships.

Magali Vaissiere, Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications at the ESA, said that the organisation was ‘excited’ to be supporting the launch of the new initiative which would support the delivery of satellite services in developing markets.

He added: “We look forward to working with Avanti in Sub-Saharan Africa to support better education outcomes and to unlock new business opportunities for both local Service Providers and European industry technology providers.”

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