Avanti Communications Group plc (AIM: AVN) has been awarded new projects funded by the European Space Agency (ESA).

Avanti is participating in a study which will define a European Data Relay Satellite (EDRS) system.  EDRS will provide communications services to future low Earth orbiting earth observation satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles. The system will allow continuous reception of data by users on the ground.  Currently, most low earth orbit satellites transmit data when they pass over fixed ground stations — meaning communications are intermittent and non-real time.  Avanti will investigate the accommodation of ESA funded EDRS payloads as a "piggyback" to one of its future satellites for one of the potential EDRS Operators, Telespazio of Rome. Avanti is also participating in a separate ESA funded project with Global Invacom Ltd., which aims to develop an integrated Ka-band terminal to be used with HylasOne. The terminal will be used for the provision of satellite broadband services to the many millions of users in rural parts of Europe who are unable to access decent broadband connectivity.