Avanti Communications : Bentley Walker and Avanti Deepen Partnership with New Contract for Superfast Satellite Broadband Services in Tanzania

Fast, affordable Ka-band satellite broadband provides alternative to out-dated Ku- and C-band services

Avanti Communications Group plc, a leading provider of satellite data communications services in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Bentley Walker, the largest supplier and operator of VSAT Networks outside of North America jointly announce a new contract to provide superfast satellite broadband in Tanzania. Avanti and Bentley Walker will extend their longstanding, extensive partnership to provide consumers, NGOs, Government departments and businesses of all sizes with Internet connectivity of up to 24Mbps across the country.

Bentley Walker has recognised the opportunity for fast, affordable Ka-band satellite broadband services as an alternative to out-dated Ku- and C-band services in Tanzania. Ubiquitous satellite broadband is perfectly suited to help increase Internet penetration and usage. Bentley Walker will work with local partners, who will benefit from the flexible, low risk nature of the new services now available. The low risk opportunity stems from local partners being able to avoid long term commitment to capacity usage.

The contract is for capacity from Avanti's HYLAS 2 Ka-band satellite using the company's CUSTOM guaranteed IP throughput product. It offers Service Providers, such as Bentley Walker, seamless, high speed IP data connectivity with low capital investment to maximise opportunities and margins.

Anthony Walker, Chief Executive Officer at Bentley Walker said:'We are excited to deepen our relationship with Avanti, and provide local partners with an opportunity to increase revenues with a very low risk. I believe that the combination of Avanti's Ka-band satellite broadband services with iDirect's new platform and price points is a compelling opportunity for local partners. I invite interested parties to contact Bentley Walker at IBC or directly if they are interested in discussing this further.'

Enrico Leonardi, Chief Sales Officer of Avanti, said:'Demand for fast, affordable connectivity in Tanzania has been increasing as consumers, NGOs, Government departments and businesses of all sizes understand the value and have greater access to mobile devices. This new contract with Bentley Walker addresses demand and increase Internet penetration by providing fast, affordable connectivity across the country.'

Bentley Walker will also leverage its innovative Home Cache product, as well as the enhanced capabilities and lower price point of iDirect's latest platform. Home Cache is designed to e¬ffectively save bandwidth usage by caching HTTP content and enhancing users' browsing experience by instantly loading frequently used content. In commercial and larger consumer networks, this can provide substantial savings and significantly improve performance for users. With the large capacity of the cache, there is provision for storing a wide array of data negating the need for larger data plans.

For further information please contact:

Avanti Communications

Avanti Communications Public Relations: Andy Phillips +44 (0)203 829 5162 Investor Relations: Matthew Springett +44 (0)207 749 6703
Montfort: Nick Miles / James Olley +44 (0)203 770 7909
Redleaf: Hannah Nicolas +44 (0)207 382 4734

Bentley Walker

Sales: Anthony Walker anthony@bentleywalker.com sales@bentleywalker.com Public Relations: marketing@bentleywalker.com

Notes to Editors

About Avanti Communications

Avanti connects people wherever they are - in their homes, businesses, in government and on mobiles. Through the HYLAS satellite fleet and more than 180 partners in 118 countries, the network provides ubiquitous internet service to a quarter of the world's population. Avanti delivers the level of quality and flexibility that the most demanding telecoms customers in the world seek.

Avanti is the first mover in high throughput satellite data communications in EMEA. It has rights to orbital slots and Ka-band spectrum in perpetuity that covers an end market of over 1.7bn people.

The Group has invested $1.2bn in a network that incorporates satellites, ground stations, datacentres and a fibre ring.

Avanti has a unique Cloud based customer interface that is protected by patented technology.

Avanti Communications is listed in London on AIM (AVN:LSE).

www.avantiplc.com

About Bentley Walker

Bentley Walker is ranked as the largest supplier and operator of VSAT Networks outside of North America. Comsys independently audited Bentley Walker as having around 45% of the Market in Europe and the Middle East, to date having sold and brought online over 40,000 VSATs.

Bentley Walker Ltd and Bentley Telecom are both privately owned Companies, the former started in 1947 by the Late LT Commander C Walker (George Cross DSC, DSO, DFC) RNVR in 1947 and is currently run and owned by Mr. Anthony Walker and Mr. Matthew Walker.

Visit us at www.bentley-walker.com or www.freedomsat.com