Avanti Communications announces the Launch Slot for its HYLAS 4 Ka-band satellite

London, 4 September 2017

The upcoming launch slot for the HYLAS 4 satellite has been agreed with Arianespace

Avanti Communications Group plc, a leading provider of satellite data communications services in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), announces it has agreed a Launch Slot for its HYLAS 4 satellite with Arianespace which opens 1st March 2018. The satellite will be launching on an Ariane 5 rocket, which has had 79 consecutive successful launches, with a partner spacecraft in a dual-launch configuration from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana.

HYLAS 4 is a hybrid propulsion satellite with part traditional chemical orbit raising and part electric orbit raising, and electric station keeping. The previously announced Launch Slot of Q4, 2017 would have required approximately 100 days of electric orbit raising for the satellite to reach geostationary orbit, therefore on station by early April 2018. However, the intended launch configuration of the new Launch Slot agreed means extra chemical fuel is able to be loaded on board the satellite, due to pairing with a lighter partner spacecraft than originally planned. This enables chemical only propulsion to be employed whereby the satellite reaches geostationary orbit in just 10 days, saving approximately 90 days of electric orbit raising. HYLAS 4 can therefore reach its on station location by the middle of March 2018. The launch configuration also provides a lower mission risk profile, with sufficient fuel able to be embarked to support the satellite for up to 19 years in orbit, an increase of 27% over previous expectations.

The new Ka-band satellite will provide high speed connectivity to our growing customer base across Broadband, Enterprise, Carrier and Government customers. Avanti’s HYLAS 4 satellite will double the capacity of its existing fleet and will cover over 35 countries across the globe. The addition of HYLAS 4 will see Avanti complete its coverage across Africa, in addition to having the capability to cover markets across Latin America. These markets can be reached through the satellite’s four steerable beams which can be placed anywhere across the Earth’s disk visible from the orbital slot of the satellite.

Avanti is delighted to confirm the Launch Slot for HYLAS 4. We are dedicated to delivering high quality capacity helping our existing Service Providers expand into new territories whilst meeting the needs of new customers. The expansion of our fleet is a great milestone for Avanti as we endeavour to expand our communications across the globe.”

Enrico Leonardi, Chief Sales Officer of Avanti