The project, co-funded by ESA under the ARTES programme, will be known as INSPIRE and provides for the installation of a blend of satellite and wireless broadband Internet access technology in 600 small communities. The communities will be located in two, still to be announced, regions in the UK. In the long-term, provision is made for expansion of the project to areas outside the UK.
The scale of the project over previous endeavours makes it stand out. Connecting 6000 users means it will be possible to verify the commercial viability of broadband access via satellite in remote areas by providing insight in issues such as flexibility of service and operational scalability.
Previous work in the development of more efficient techniques to deliver video and data via satellite and terrestrial distribution networks carried out by Avanti serves as a basis for this endeavour. A notable example of this is in the ESA supported BARRD project to bring Broadband to rural areas of England and Scotland (see related links at the right of this page).
Current forecasts estimate that large numbers of households in the 25 member EU will have no access to broadband services in 2010, either at home or work; this because of the economic and technical limitations of terrestrial broadband services. Overcoming challenges associated with the Digital Divide is high on agenda of the European Space Agency and of European Union member states.
"Avanti's success in this area will boost credibility of the provision of Internet services based on satellite and benefit the whole community of satellite interactive service providers", explains Mr Roberto Donadio, ESA Telecom Technical Officer for the INSPIRE project. Avanti Screenmedia expects this project to open the door to a whole range of new markets. Commenting on the contract, David Williams of Avanti Screenmedia said: "This contract fits in the context of efforts currently being made to address the 'Digital Divide'. We have created a product which has the price and functionality to solve that problem."
