A dramatic attempt to climb to the summit of the world’s highest mountain was announced on 4th February 2003 by Admiral Sir Jonathon Band KCB, Commander-in-Chief Fleet. A team of ten climbers and three support managers from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines (RN.RM) will mount the expedition to conquer Everest in April 2003, using one of the most technically challenging routes. Once at the top, the climbers will attempt a ‘world first’ by broadcasting live footage from Everest’s summit.

The two-month expedition will see the climbers endeavouring to reach the summit via the North Col and North East Ridge, one of the steepest and most technically demanding routes. The climb will be the RN/RM’s first attempt, and will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing.

In addition, there will be three support treks from Kathmandu (Nepal) to the Tibetan Everest Base Camp (5,200m), involving 54 servicemen and women selected from all ranks, units and trades across the RN and RM. Each trek will comprise a 16-day, less specialised venture, conducted with Nepalese Sherpa and yak support throughout. The teams will provide logistic re-supply to Base Camp and conduct environmental projects to remove rubbish and waste left on the mountain by previous expeditions.

The expedition has been made possible with the support of a number of private sector organisations, including Paradigm Services, which is soon to become the service delivery company for the UK MOD’s Skynet 5 programme. Paradigm Services is one of the main financial sponsors and, with its partners Stratos and General Dynamics, is loaning the commercial satellite communications equipment which will contribute to the expedition party sending live footage from the very top of Everest to the world.

Footage received at Base Camp will be transmitted to the outside world and international media using Paradigm Services’ links provided by the Stratos Regional BGan system and using General Dynamics’ Iridium network. In addition, support trek team members will be using Paradigm’s welfare communications service, currently provided to UK troops on MOD-defined ‘entitled operations’ overseas, to keep their loved ones informed from Base Camp as the expeditions progress.

The Paradigm Training School based at TCS Oakhanger in Bordon is shortly to complete a major refurbishment programme. Several new classrooms with full Computer Based Training (CBT) equipment have been created using a dedicated training Local Area Network (LAN) and a new reprographics facility has been installed, with the full range of amenities having being gutted and rebuilt.

The occasion of the first MOD students to pass through the refurbished school will take place during the third week in July, with a full ceremonial opening due in early September 2004.

Under the Skynet 5 contract, the school already provides several training courses on behalf of the MOD at TCS site and at various sites throughout the UK and Europe. This includes a series of generic and specifically designed courses tailored to the customer’s needs, offered to both UK and overseas customers. The refurbished facility will aid in the delivery of professional training for any of Paradigm Services’ and Paradigm Secure Communications’ customers. There is a vast selection of courses currently being offered. They incorporate a mix of classroom theory and practical exercises on operational equipment with visits to relevant locations:

Details of these courses and their availability may be obtained by contacting the Paradigm Services Customer Contact Centre on the UK MOD network or at our head office.

Paradigm Services has been awarded the ‘Multi Activity Contract’ (MAC) by the UK MOD, under which Paradigm will provide support services at all RAF 1001 Signals Unit (1001SU) sites. This is in advance of the full Skynet 5 contract at which point Paradigm will take over ownership and full operation of these sites.

The MAC contract covers both military satellite operations activities and ancillary and domestic services at the Oakhanger, Colerne and Hawthorn sites, as well as the 1001SU element at Defford. The activities under the MAC contract will be subcontracted to Paradigm team member Serco.

The MAC contract forms part of the phased transition from military ownership and operation of these MOD sites to Paradigm’s managed service approach for the provision of Skynet 5 military satellite communications services. The majority of work covered by this contract will be carried out prior to the ‘Transitional Operational Service’ date, at which point the official handover of the 1001SU sites to Paradigm will take place.

This is the second contract to be awarded within the Skynet 5 boundary since the Paradigm team’s selection as preferred bidder in Spring 2002. The first contract was awarded in July 2002 for the provision of rapid deployment satcom terminals. Astrium, as prime contractor to Paradigm Secure Communications for the complete Skynet 5 ground system, selected BAE SYSTEMS C4ISR Division’s ‘Talon’ terminal to meet this requirement and all 12 terminals were successfully delivered by end December 2002, with a further three due in August 2003.

Paradigm Services is a key member of the Paradigm team, which is led by Paradigm Secure Communications. As progress is made towards contract award Paradigm Services is looking forward to becoming the service delivery company for the Skynet 5 PFI programme. At contract award both Paradigm companies will become wholly owned subsidiaries of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space company, EADS.

Paradigm Services has made a major commitment to welfare service provision for troops overseas by introducing an in-house telephony switching capability The importance of welfare communications at this time cannot be overstated, with Paradigm currently providing extensive support in the Gulf region Paradigm’s progress towards TelCo status is significant as it moves into the Skynet 5 era, when it will be the first company ever to deliver secure military satellite communications services

Paradigm Services has now become a fully-fledged telecommunications operator (TelCo)*. Having successfully delivered the UK MOD’s Project WELCOME service for the past 3 years, Paradigm took the decision to invest in a switching system of its own. Project WELCOME provides welfare telephone and Internet services to UK troops on MOD-defined ‘entitled operations’ overseas. This service is also delivered to Armed Forces of other nations.

Until recently, Paradigm had been using subcontractors to switch all the welfare telephone calls carried over its network from destinations around the world such as the Balkans, Afghanistan, the Gulf and on board Royal Navy ships. ‘Switching’ is a vital part of Paradigm’s service as it ensures calls are correctly routed from the operational area to the telephones of families and friends back home.

The in-house switch brings significant benefits to the troops, including a common card system, which means that the service is seamless to personnel passing from one theatre to another. During the UK MOD’s Ex SAIF SAREEA II in Oman, Royal Marines who sailed on HMS Ocean, accessing the Paradigm welfare service via the on-board Mentor system, had to, once they reached Oman, use a different card to access the VSAT facilities on land at Port Salalah. This was due to the incompatible card systems used by Paradigm’s two different suppliers, which was inflexible for users and prevented some troops from making maximum use of the benefits of Paradigm’s welfare services. However, Paradigm’s investment in a switching capability ensures that this problem will no longer occur, facilitating continuous welfare provision to personnel moving between theatres.

The roll-out of Paradigm’s new system has been phased-in over a three month period which commenced in early January. All users on the new system now also have access to Paradigm’s own Customer Support helpdesk, which was previously only available to Internet service users via e-mail. Initially staffed during working hours, and then progressing towards a 24-hour Skynet 5 service, the helpdesk allows users to raise any concerns or problems directly with Paradigm via telephone, fax or e-mail. Directory enquiry services are also available from the helpdesk. A credit card facility which allows both users abroad and their families in the UK to add additional, privately financed minutes to their welfare cards will also now be provided directly by Paradigm.

Paradigm Services is a key member of the Paradigm team, which is led by Paradigm Secure Communications and was selected as the UK MOD’s preferred bidder for the Skynet 5 programme in Spring 2002. As progress is made towards contract award Paradigm Services is looking forward to becoming the service delivery company for the Skynet 5 PFI programme. At contract award both Paradigm companies will become wholly owned subsidiaries of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space company, EADS.

Over 40,000 troops serving in the current Gulf conflict are keeping in touch with family and friends using Paradigm’s welfare communications service The first communications cabin has already gone live in Umm Qasr Paradigm has been under contract to the MOD to satisfy their welfare communications requirements since 1999 and has had a major impact on troops and their loved ones at home – expectations of the service are now high 15 self-contained, air-conditioned cabins are currently deployed in 5 countries across the Gulf region, containing around 350 telephone handsets and 200 PCs Paradigm has introduced some 1,000 IRIDIUM and GLOBALSTAR satellite communications handsets into the Middle East for welfare calls RN / RFA access is provided via 35 Maritime INMARSAT terminals and 34 MENTOR lines 700,000 disposable welfare cards, 40,000 account cards and 100,000 £10 private cards – available to purchase in theatre – have been produced specifically for this MOD Operation 1,500,000 minutes of calls were connected in the first 6 weeks of the deployment Paradigm is the BFPO’s primary ‘ebluey’ carrier, delivering 95% of all ‘eblueys’ sent / received

Paradigm Customer Support recently received an e-mail stating: “I can only praise your service. Having been in the Services for over 30 years, believe me the alternative of past times, i.e. no communications at all, is not somewhere we want to go to again, so thank you for what you provide.”

Paradigm Services has been satisfying UK MOD requirements for a welfare communications service for troops on ‘entitled operations’ overseas since April 2000. Initially, this entailed provision of telecommunications facilities, but the service soon expanded to incorporate Internet / E-mail access in all new theatres. The troops had never before been able to keep in touch with home so easily – a vital part of morale whilst away.

Over the years Paradigm has developed a close working relationship with the MOD, which has been essential to the smooth delivery of services, especially into new operational locations. Since late 2002, Paradigm has been devising and implementing a dynamic equipment deployment and support plan to satisfy the MOD’s plans, requirements and evolving priorities for the Gulf. Paradigm’s first-in equipment was in theatre, along with on-site emergency support engineers, in time for the arrival of initial force elements and provision has increased in line with troop numbers. Paradigm’s engineers remain in-situ, living and working alongside the troops, and have been provided with body armour and full NBC warfare training.

Paradigm delivers this service using the most cost-effective and practical method for the required location, troop levels and environment. Where appropriate, for example in Bahrain, Paradigm provides international freephone access or GSM mobile telephone services and as the largest commercial user of Iridium airtime, Paradigm has introduced some 1,000 IRIDIUM and GLOBALSTAR satellite communications handsets into the Gulf region. Where large numbers of troops are deployed, VSAT satellite communications cabins are equipped with telephones and PCs which connect directly to Paradigm’s hub at Stevenage in the UK. 15 of these self-contained, air-conditioned cabins are currently deployed in 5 countries across the Gulf region, containing around 350 telephone handsets and 200 PCs. Significant amounts of equipment, the equivalent of 14 double-decker buses, have been moved from locations such as the Balkans, Oman and the UK, transported by sea / air using military and commercial means. Paradigm’s equipment displacements mirror troop movements closely. Cabins will be commissioned as soon as an area is declared stable – Umm Qasr being the initial example, with other Iraqi locations expected to be announced in future. Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels also receive the Paradigm welfare service.

Paradigm’s service is accessed using either 20-minute disposable welfare cards, issued weekly, or account cards, credited with 20 minutes of calls each Sunday. For this operation alone, over 700,000 disposable welfare cards and 40,000 account cards are already available for land-based and naval troops respectively. In excess of 100,000 £10 private cards have also been dispatched to over 60 NAAFI, EFI and BFPO outlets, enabling troops to purchase additional calling time. Upon MOD request, a compassionate card has now been introduced for use in exceptional circumstances.

The MOD’s British Forces Post Office (BFPO) also makes use of Paradigm’s welfare communications service to enable delivery of ‘e-bluey’ electronic letters sent via the Web at one end and printed out and delivered like a letter at the other end (this works both to and from the troops abroad). A BFPO representative recently commented: “The satellite telephones we are using in the Middle East are proving to be extremely reliable and this is allowing us to provide a quite exceptional e-bluey service.“ In previous major deployments the number of e-blueys transmitted in any one month has not exceeded 22,000. Current operations have led to the transmission of 244,000 e-blueys over the past month, with one location downloading in excess of 7,000 e-blueys a day using a single satellite telephone.

Paradigm Services is a key member of the Paradigm team, which is led by Paradigm Secure Communications and was selected as the UK MOD’s preferred bidder for the Skynet 5 programme in Spring 2002. As progress is made towards contract award, Paradigm Services is looking forward to becoming the service delivery company for the Skynet 5 PFI programme. At Skynet 5 contract award, both Paradigm companies will be wholly owned by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, EADS.

A Royal Navy and Royal Marines (RN/RM) team, soon to attempt conquering Everest using one of the most technically challenging routes, has arrived in Tibet. Initial information received from the expedition has been transmitted using hi-tech satellite communications equipment provided by the Paradigm team.

A party of 10 climbers and 3 support managers plan to make their first summit attempt on this, the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing.

The expedition has been made possible with the support of a number of companies*, including Paradigm Services, which is soon to become the service delivery company for the UK MOD’s Skynet 5 programme. Paradigm Services is one of the main financial sponsors and, with its partners Stratos and General Dynamics, has loaned the commercial satellite communications equipment, which is allowing the expedition team to keep in touch with the outside world.

Images received at Base Camp are being transmitted to international media and families and friends back home using Paradigm Services’ links provided by the Stratos Regional BGAN system and using the General Dynamics’ provided Iridium network. In addition to these vital datalinks, support trek team members are able to use Paradigm’s welfare communications service, currently provided to UK troops on MOD-defined ‘entitled operations’ overseas, to keep their loved ones up-to-date from Base Camp.

In addition to the main summit team, there are three support treks taking place from Kathmandu (Nepal) to the Tibetan Everest Base Camp (5,200m), involving 54 servicemen and women selected from all ranks, units and branches across the RN and RM. Each trek comprises a 16-day, less specialised venture, conducted with Nepalese Sherpa and yak support throughout. These teams are providing logistic re-supply to Base Camp and conducting environmental projects to remove rubbish and waste left on the mountain by previous expeditions.

Amsterdam, 26 May 2003 – On Monday, the European Commission formally approved the acquisition by EADS (stock exchange symbol EAD) of the 25 percent stake (27.5 percent economic share) in EADS Astrium, Europe’s leading space company, formerly held by BAE SYSTEMS plc.

With the permission of the European Commission, the transaction was implemented on 7 May. EADS now wholly owns its Space activities, meaning it can integrate and restructure the Space business worldwide to enhance competitiveness in current market conditions. EADS is now starting to implement its comprehensive restructuring programme, including site reallocation according to a centre-of-competence approach and sourcing reorganisation. The EADS Space management plans to save a total of € 500 million in recurring costs by the year 2005 and to reach EBIT breakeven by 2004 for the Space Division.

According to the two companies’ agreement which was announced at the end of January 2003, BAE SYSTEMS and EADS have each injected € 84 million equity into EADS Astrium Limited. EADS has also made a further € 99 million capital increase at EADS Astrium Limited. As the purchase price for BAE SYSTEMS' stake was also € 84 million, the transfer was effectively implemented for zero cash consideration.

Full control of Paradigm Secure Communications Ltd., selected for the Skynet 5 military communications satellite programme formerly held jointly by BAE SYSTEMS and EADS, has already been transferred to EADS. Full ownership of Paradigm will allow EADS to expand in military telecommunications satellites services, which is a major area of future growth.

About EADS:

EADS is a global aerospace and defence company and is the world’s second largest in terms of revenues with € 29.9 billion in 2002. EADS has a workforce of more than 100,000 and is a market leader in defence technology, commercial aircraft, helicopters, space, military transport and combat aircraft, as well as related services. Its family of leading brands includes the commercial aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter, the space company EADS Astrium and MBDA, the world’s second largest missile company. EADS is the biggest partner in the Eurofighter consortium and heads the A400M military transport aircraft programme. The company has over 70 sites in Germany, France, Great Britain and Spain. It is active in many regions worldwide, including the U.S., Russia and Asia.

Just one week after Skynet 5 contract signature, the first Harbour Acceptance Trial (HAT) for SCOT 5 - the Satellite Communications Terminal upgrades which are being implemented across the Royal Navy Fleet as part of the Skynet 5 programme - was conducted at HMS Collingwood, the RN Training Base. The delivery date was set in the Paradigm bid submission in February 2001 and has not changed since. It marks the first of the Terminal Services being provided under Skynet 5. The SCOT 5 equipment is the latest generation of naval satellite communications terminals and is being supplied by EADS Astrium, under contract to Paradigm.

Following on from this initial HAT, the first shipborne terminal is being fitted onboard HMS Somerset in January 2004. A new SCOT 5 system will then be delivered approximately every month until the order for all 28 systems has been fulfilled.

Since preferred bidder selection, the system team at EADS Astrium has been developing the Skynet 5 designs and conducting the relevant reviews, to enable manufacture to commence on the new satellites even before final contract signature. Build has now started on both the Communications Module panels and the Service Module.

Paradigm has also been working with the DCSA on a ‘Transition Order’ which will bring its current ‘Project WELCOME’ activities within the Skynet 5 boundary. Paradigm has been successfully delivering the DCSA’s global welfare communications service, enabling troops to phone, and more recently email, home whilst they are on ‘MOD-entitled’ operations overseas, for the past 4 years. By bringing these services within the Skynet 5 contract, this secures the welfare programme for the 15-year Skynet 5 concession period. It will simplify management for the MOD and will allow longer-term service development by Paradigm, which is committed to further enhancing this service to benefit Forces personnel and their friends and families. An illustration of this, is increasing value for money on both publicly-funded and private minutes through regular call rate reviews. One example of this is that Paradigm has recently lowered its VSAT, Mentor and Iridium service rates.

The Ministries of Defence of France, Italy and the United Kingdom have been jointly selected by NATO to provide its new Satellite Communications capability from 2005 through to 2019. The NATO SATCOM Post-2000 capability requirement for SHF and UHF space segment is to be provided through the existing national programmes – Syracuse in France, Sicral in Italy and Skynet in the UK.

Paradigm Secure Communications, as the military satellite communication (Milsatcom) provider in the UK has supported the UK MOD and contributed to this innovative proposal for the provision of military communications services. Paradigm Secure Communications will play a major role in meeting the NATO requirement.

Through the national systems of France, Italy and the UK, NATO is now able to fulfil its ever-increasing milsatcom requirements. These new and highly capable systems will ensure coherence with the changing NATO crisis management role and will provide a fully deployable communications capability in support of such operations.

Malcolm Peto, Managing Director for Paradigm Secure Communications, said, “This is excellent news for Paradigm and the European space industry. Paradigm signed a £2.5bn contract with the UK MOD for milsatcom services last year and this announcement really reinforces Paradigm’s pre-eminent position both in milsatcom service provision and the international arena.”

The three Nations’ procurement agencies: DGA for France, Teledife for Italy, DPA for the UK and their respective industry partners agreed to work together to offer NATO the optimum SHF and UHF milsatcom solution. The milsatcom providers of three nations have already formed a cohesive team. Alcatel Space in France, Alenia Spazio in Italy and Paradigm Secure Communications in the UK are all key players in the European satellite space industry and have been working closely together throughout the procurement process. The project has further backing and support from each of their parent companies: Alcatel, Finmeccanica and EADS.

This agreement requires Paradigm to provide managed secure communications services to the Canadian Navy, on an as and required basis. Paradigm will also provide the use of modem equipment in the UK to support the service and the provision of a dedicated backhaul connection between UK and Canada. This will allow the Canadian Military direct access to secure, survivable satellite communications, which will enhance their communications capability in remote areas, facilitate their role in NATO and national operations, and allow cost-effective management of these resources.

Paradigm Secure Communications, a subsidiary of EADS SPACE Services, is the world’s first commercial provider of Military X-band Services and the only company able to offer X-band communications on hardened and protected satellites that are compliant to NATO standards.

Malcolm Peto, Managing Director of Paradigm Secure Communications, said, “Paradigm is delighted to make this announcement and I look forward to continuing our close working arrangements with the Canadian Military. I am very pleased with the fast and responsive interaction between our teams and I welcome the DND to the Paradigm Milsatcom club.” Paradigm is able to offer this unique service to export customers as a result of the signing of the groundbreaking Skynet 5 Private Finance Initiative contract with the UK MOD in October 2003. In May 2003, Paradigm took over operations of the entire UK MOD satellite communications (satcom) network, and is today meeting all the UK Armed Forces’ satcoms requirements through a comprehensive managed service approach.

The Skynet 5 PFI programme will deliver the most advanced and flexible satellite communications service with greatly increased throughput over the current system – the new satellites will have 12 times the power and will set the benchmark for military X-band performance. The service will enable instantaneous voice, video and data transmission between users deployed in a wide range of operational scenarios. Individual requests for services to meet specific operational requirements are handled by Paradigm, which provides 24/7 365 day support.