Imarasat to target SME’s in Kenyan after signing contract extension with Avanti

Avanti Communications announced a significant two year contract extension with Imarasat. The contract will enable growth for Imarasat in consumer, SME and enterprise markets across 14 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Imarasat will, in particular, target the significant opportunity that the growing SME market presents in countries, such as Kenya.

It is estimated that 1.1 million active Kenyan SMEs contribute 45% to Kenya’s economy. However, nearly 75% of them do not have access to the Internet and are therefore unable to benefit from the growth and productivity gains that broadband can offer. 32% of SMEs are outside of 3G broadband coverage entirely. These SMEs are perfectly suited to satellite broadband services offered by Imarasat and Avanti.

Imarasat has contracted additional services using both Avanti’s SELECT and CUSTOM products. Avanti’s pre-packaged SELECT product allows Imarasat to provide consumer and SME customers with fast, affordable satellite broadband. Avanti’s guaranteed capacity CUSTOM product is more suitable for enterprise customers. It is enabling Imarasat to more effectively address key verticals, such as financial services, oil and gas, hospitality and agriculture.

Imarasat’s Ka-band satellite broadband service includes a highly differentiated Quality of Service (QoS) feature. It ensures real-time prioritization of mission critical applications for SME and enterprise customers using Imarasat’s packet shaping technology. This is implemented on hubs at Avanti’s Gateway Earth Stations. The technology avoids contention and interrupted business broadband services associated with non-business traffic, such as infotainment and peer to peer file sharing.

Salim Suleman, Managing Director of Imarasat, commented: “Our desire to partner with Avanti is based on the same value proposition that attracted us to its services in the first place. That is, a combination of reliable, high quality satellite broadband delivered as part of flexible product portfolio at a cost-effective price and with zero capital expenditure. This significant contract extension reflects our confidence in Avanti as a strategic partner that can help us grow.”

David Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Avanti, said: “Imarasat requires partners with innovative services that help it to operate competitively and grow. Avanti continues to be one such partner. The significant extension to our high quality, flexible satellite broadband services across Sub-Saharan Africa illustrates the well-established, close relationship between the two companies.”