[SatNews] This capacity agreement will bring subsidized broadband services to rural areas...

Avanti Communications Group plc (AIM: AVN) has welcomed Novasoft Corporación S.L. (“Novasoft”) as a new customer on HYLAS 1 in Spain. Novasoft’s subsidiary, Novasoft WiFi Extremadura, is an ICT services provider in Spain. It is working with the Regional Government of Extremadura in a project to provide subsidized broadband services to customers in rural areas that cannot access terrestrial broadband. According to European Union estimates, approximately 10 percent of residential telephone lines in Spain are unable to operate an internet connection at speeds of 2Mbps or more, equivalent to over 1m potential customers for fast satellite broadband. Avanti Chief Executive, David Williams, said, “I am pleased to note again that Avanti’s successes in working with government funded rural broadband projects can be replicated around Europe. Our technologies and experience in this field make Avanti and high quality local partners such as Novasoft the safe choice for any government agency wishing to solve rural broadband not spots quickly and cost‐effectively.”