Avanti Communications Group plc, the satellite operator, announces the successful launch of HYLAS 2 from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana on Ariane Flight VA208 at 5.54pm local time (9.54pm UK time). The Ariane 5 launch was perfect, injecting HYLAS 2 into the correct orbit precisely on schedule. HYLAS 2 separated from the Ariane 5 on time and telemetry was received at the control centre at the European Spaceport.

David Williams, Chief Executive of Avanti Communications, commented: "I'm delighted that our second satellite, HYLAS 2, has been successfully launched and is operating under our control.

"It will now undertake a series of pre-planned in orbit acceptance tests over the coming three months before we commence service for customers.

"HYLAS 2 will provide high speed data capacity across Southern and Eastern Africa, the Middle East and the Caucasus. This service changes everything in the data markets in those regions that have previously left companies, Governments and consumers poorly served.

The markets now served by HYLAS 2 demonstrate a fantastic combination of strong macroeconomics, high unmet demand for telecoms and low competition in satellite services. I am very excited about our prospects for growth."

HYLAS 2 will deploy 24 fixed beams and one steerable beam utilizing pioneering Ka-band technology, offering customers flexibility and significantly increased speeds and data throughput at a much lower cost. The use of satellite technology is transforming how businesses and Governments access telecoms services.

Traditional land-based telecoms infrastructure is not commercially viable in large parts of many emerging market economies, due to issues of geographic scale, challenging terrain, security and access to financing.

Satellite communications provision is therefore playing an increasingly important role in bridging the digital divide in these economies, delivering telecoms access to a huge number of potential users who have previously been disenfranchised. David Williams added:

"We have always believed there is a huge opportunity for satellite communications services in emerging markets because growth for data and voice services is high whilst supply of telecoms network capacity is low.

As our satellite infrastructure cover is ubiquitous, we can offer telecommunications services anywhere across these regions, even in remote locations.

"This is very attractive to Government and enterprise customers, particularly those working in oil, mining, agriculture, banking and security sectors. We also have a major opportunity in Carrier Services, because our products are now cost effective enough to provide high quality backhaul and IP trunking to help telcos to improve the resilience and capacity of their networks."