Avanti has been awarded the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation (DETI) contract to provide broadband services to homes and businesses in rural and remote areas of Northern Ireland. The contract is part of an Irish government plan valued at 43m euros that brings broadband services to communities all over Ireland which are out of the reach of terrestrial alternatives.

Avanti will be concentrating on serving the rural areas where ADSL and mobile broadband will not reach. The contract will cover 5,000-6,000 homes and businesses in its initial phase although the eventual number of potential customers may be higher.

Avanti will begin services on leased capacity, transferring to its own HYLAS satellite after its launch.

The contract has an expected value to Avanti of 5.3m euros over three years.