In a recent announcement on November 10, Avanti Communications revealed its ongoing discussions to secure capacity from a prominent Low Earth Orbit (LEO) operator. The move is part of Avanti's strategic transformation into a provider of multi-orbit broadband services, marking a shift from its traditional focus on regional geostationary satellites.
Avanti's CEO, Kyle Whitehill, shared that the company is in the final stages of negotiating a deal, expected to be unveiled in the coming months. This initiative aims to enhance Avanti's global presence, allowing the company to offer coverage worldwide, responding to the specific needs of its customers.
Rather than investing in additional satellites, Avanti has opted to prioritize strategic partnerships to bring value through service management for existing capacity. With a current fleet of five geostationary satellites providing Ka-band broadband coverage across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, the company seeks to leverage partnerships to manage the increasing market capacity.
Notably, Avanti's focus on Africa as a key expansion target aligns with efforts to address connectivity challenges in regions with lower average revenue per user. The company is actively deploying managed services in South Africa and Nigeria, with the impending deal with the undisclosed LEO operator set to extend these services globally.
The envisioned collaboration would offer customers an integrated connectivity service with enhanced network management capabilities. Avanti's distribution network, local market knowledge, customer relationships, and on-the-ground managed service delivery capabilities would complement the LEO operator's services.
This strategic shift follows Avanti's 2019 business adjustment, steering away from consumer broadband to concentrate on cellular backhaul, government partnerships, and capacity sales to other satellite operators. Although details of the negotiation with the LEO operator remain undisclosed, Whitehill anticipates bringing multi-orbit services into operation next year.
The move positions Avanti in a rapidly evolving satellite market, with a focus on staying competitive amid the rise of broadband constellations such as SpaceX's Starlink. As global demand for connectivity continues to soar, industry players are increasingly exploring partnerships to meet the evolving needs of consumers.