Avanti Communications looks on course to deliver 8Mb satellite broadband deals to UK and European consumers this year, following the successful completion of a series of key tests.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has reported that thermal-vacuum checks on the HYLAS 1 satellite – the most demanding phase of testing - were successfully completed in Bangalore, India, during May.

This involved subjecting the complete satellite to the temperature extremes it will experience in orbit several times over a period of four weeks.

According to the ESA, the experiments have confirmed the overall performance and build quality of the satellite subsystems, which will be used to serve Avanti's broadband packages.

"The on-schedule completion of thermal vacuum testing is a significant milestone," says Andrea Cotellessa, ESA's HYLAS Project Manager.

"In just four years from contract signature, we have completed the development and qualification of our advanced communication payload technologies."

The HYLAS 1 satellite, which will be launched into a geostationary orbit at 33.5 degrees west, is designed to have a lifespan of 15 years.