Avanti Communications has been granted the authorization required for the company’s HYLAS 4 satellite gateway station in Diamniadio, Senegal.

The Infrastructure Operator Authorization, which was granted on February 29, 2024, by the Minister of Communications, Telecommunications and Digital, Mr. Moussa Bocar Thiam, means the gateway’s state-of-the-art infrastructure will now become operational. Avanti will now move on to the final phase of testing before launching the firm’s services are launched.

The launch will provide Senegal with complete, high-speed, national satellite coverage, representing a significant step forward in the country’s telecommunications landscape and supporting the government’s ‘Senegal Digital 2025’ strategy.

Avanti’s satellite coverage will provide reliable, high-speed voice and data to Senegal’s rural communities, schools, hospitals, businesses and government departments, as well as playing a crucial role in improving national security.

Once operational, the gateway is set to be a driving force in Senegal’s digital economy with the potential to generate local employment opportunities. To make this vision a reality, Avanti has committed to investing in Senegal’s growing tech centre and has already started recruiting a team on-the-ground in Diamniadio.

In addition to Senegal, the new gateway will extend the coverage of Avanti’s HYLAS 4 satellite to the surrounding West African countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Gambia, Liberia and Ivory Coast, making Senegal a key digital hub for the region. Avanti’s carrier customers will also be able to extend their reach to rural areas and other semi-urban locations where terrestrial networks are currently limited or unreliable.

Kyle Whitehill, CEO at Avanti, said,“This project has been a labor of love for everyone at Avanti and we now look forward to completing our final tests and launching our services. The tech industry in Senegal is accelerating and we look forward to being right at the forefront of its exciting growth trajectory. I want to extend a special thank you to Honourable Mr. Moussa Bocar Thiam, Minister of Communications, Telecommunications and Digital, and his technical teams, whose collaboration and commitment to the development of telecommunications have undeniably played a role in the success of this gateway project. Additionally, I’d like to thank the Director-General of The Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Posts and his team for their ongoing support which has played a critical role in securing our license.”

Honorable Mr. Moussa Bocar Thiam, Minister of Communications, Telecommunications and Digital, said, “Our approval of this new gateway reinforces the development of telecommunications in Senegal. The satellite coverage Avanti will provide is set to enhance the lives of millions of people across the country. Critically, the complete national coverage will increase access to high-speed satellite internet in our schools, hospitals and communities – touching the lives of all those who need it.”

Avanti Communications signs strategic agreement with Telesat

Avanti Communications has also signed an MoU Telesat (NASDAQ and TSX: TSAT),to test and develop LEO services as part of its global strategy to deliver bespoke, multi-orbit solutions to customers at scale.

Avanti plans to incorporate Telesat’s Lightspeed™ services into its network to provide affordable, high quality broadband connectivity worldwide. Telesat’s global network is composed of 198 state-of-the-art LEO satellites that are seamlessly integrated with on-ground networks.

Avanti is investing heavily in strategic partnerships and its managed services to meet customers’ requirements in an evolving industry where demand for capacity is growing. Avanti’s first low-latency LEO constellation agreement will support the execution of Avanti’s new strategy, which is built on a “customer pull” vs. “technology push” model.

The collaboration will be optimized to serve the critical connectivity requirements of Avanti’s enterprise and government customers once the Telesat Lightspeed constellation is operational in 2027.

Additionally, under the terms of the agreement, Telesat will explore combining Avanti’s landing stations, Points of Presences (PoPs), terrestrial connectivity, site hosting and management services as part of its global terrestrial infrastructure that seamlessly integrates with the Telesat Lightspeed satellite network.

Toby Robinson, Chief of Strategy and Business Development at Avanti, said, “Avanti has already transformed into a customer-led business and will now embark on the next phase of its journey to meet customers’ requirements with multi-orbit solutions tailored to individual needs. The Telesat Lightspeed service will specifically target our enterprise and government customers, enabling us to deliver on our commitment to cater to the most complex requirements while maintaining the high performance, reliability and quality of service our customers expect.”

Glenn Katz, Chief Commercial officer at Telesat, said, “We are delighted to work with partners like Avanti, who recognize the unique value and innovation that Telesat Lightspeed provides for resilient, global connectivity. Integration of Avanti’s EMEA terrestrial infrastructure into the Telesat Lightspeed network provides promising synergies and optimizations for both organizations.”