The WelComE Customer Contact Centre is open at the following UK times during the festive season:

24th December 2009 06:00 – 22:00

25th December 2009 06:00 – 14:00

26th December 2009 CLOSED

27th December 2009 06:00 – 22:00

28th December 2009 06:00 – 22:00

29th December 2009 06:00 – 22:00

30th December 2009 06:00 – 22:00

31st December 2009 06:00 – 22:00

1st January 2010 06:00 – 22:00

2nd & 3rd January 2010 CLOSED

4th January 2010 - Normal opening hours resume: 06:00 - 22:00

For those deployed overseas, don't forget to sign up for automatic top up so that you can have the option to add more minutes to your Paradigm account card during closing hours.

Paradigm Services has improved the current communications services by enabling families and friends to leave voicemail messages for service personnel who are on operations overseas.

Up to 10 messages per person, each of which can last up to two minutes, can be saved to individual accounts. The messages are charged by the second at a rate of 50 pence per minute, plus network extras, but the person receiving the messages is not charged for retrieving them. The voicemails can be saved for up to 60 days.

Recent trials of the new service have proved to be very popular with service personnel and provide a quick and easy way for family and friends to make contact with their loved ones.

The WELCOME (WELfare COMmunications Everywhere) package of services is a vital link for military personnel with friends and families back home. Paradigm's WELCOME services allows servicemen to make telephone calls and have access to the internet from operational theatres worldwide, as part of the MOD funded welfare package.

Project WELCOME is provided by Paradigm as part of the Skynet 5 PFI contract with the MoD. Paradigm has provided over a million hours of welfare telephone calls since Op Telic began and, provides internet and email services, that are free for use to all UK service personnel deployed on operations overseas.

Paradigm Services has a well-established relationship with the UK MoD and has been fulfilling the requirements of the welfare communications service for troops on 'entitled operations' overseas since April 2000.

Malcolm Peto, Managing Director of Paradigm said:"We have a clear focus on our military customers and are proud to be able to provide vital Welfare communications for British Forces. This is just one more example of Paradigm's ability to deliver capability anywhere, anytime".

Skynet 5 is the groundbreaking next generation military satellite communications programme and will provide end-to-end, tariff based, resilient, secure Beyond Line of Site communications services, including Welfare, to the UK MoD and other non-UK MoD customers until 2020.

The programme provides delivery of information services between the UK's Defence Fixed Network and in theatre networks and users.

Secure communications services will be delivered by the owner and operator - Paradigm Secure Communications, which is wholly owned by Astrium, a subsidiary of EADS, European Aeronautic Defence and Space company.

The MoD contract, which is now worth £3.6bn was placed with Paradigm on 24th October 2003. It is the UK MoD's largest and most complex PFI contract to date.

Come and visit Paradigm on the EADS stand no. 1475 in the South hall at DSEi 2009 next week at the Excel centre, London. Paradigm will be exhibiting their latest services in the 'space' area of the EADS stand. If you wish to discuss your military satellite communication needs, please come to the stand and ask for one of representatives.

EADS will be hosting a cheese and wine event on the stand on Wenesday 9th September, if you wish to join us, please contact us at [email protected] or speak to us during the show.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Global MilSatCom is Europe's leading event for satellite communication professionals.

Global MilSatCom gives you the opportunity to assess and reflect upon the latest issues affecting the SatCom industry. From the latest national programmes and procurement, to technological developments, operational realities and civil-military interoperability, this is your opportunity to network with the major players from across the globe and establish your future strategy.

Visit Paradigm at Global MilSatCom on the Paradigm/EADS Astrium stand to discuss your milsatcom requirements and view our latest services.

We look forward to see you there!

Global MilSatCom Millennium Gloucester Hotel Conference Centre, South Kensington, London

To view the conference schedule, visit: http://www.smi-online.co.uk/events/overview.asp?is=1&ref=3102

Stevenage, 21st May 2009. Paradigm Secure Communications Ltd, a subsidiary of Astrium Services, has signed a service order with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 8 May 2009, under the current Skynet 5 Private Finance Initiative Contract, for the delivery of a managed satellite communications service to the first two Astute class submarines. This is the first phase of a programme to supply secure, high data rate communications via the Skynet constellation and will significantly increase data throughput compared to existing systems.

The managed service provides a single integrated solution including service development, help desk, system architecture engineering, programme management, sub contractor management, assurance, supply of equipment and spares, management of MoD supplied equipment spares, training, and Through Life Support.

The service will allow the submarines to rapidly gather or transmit data. The support infrastructure for the system will be provided by Paradigm. Overall, the approach reduces the risk because Paradigm will provide a “one-stop-shop”. Additionally, the service will provide the submarines with a capability advantage compared to current systems. The period of the service is 54 months from a successful harbour acceptance trial on board the submarine HMS Astute.

This order will utilise the existing Skynet 5 infrastructure and satellite constellation currently provided and managed by Paradigm for the UK MoD. The shore based infrastructure will be augmented by additional equipment implemented at other non Paradigm shore based command sites and the submarine platforms themselves.

Currently, Paradigm provides services to the Royal Navy’s Fleet surface vessels and this new service will allow Paradigm to supply a new service to Fleet submarines and the associated shore based command facilities.

Keith Norton, Managing Director Paradigm said: “This is excellent evidence of further benefit realisation from the Skynet PFI and this contract extends Paradigm’s service provision relationship with UK MoD. We are extremely proud to be delivering this new and important communications service to the Royal Navy”

Editors Notes

Paradigm - delivering satellite communications requirements

Paradigm has a contract worth £3.6bn with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the provision of military satellite communications services to 2020, following restructuring of the contract at the end of 2005, to allow for placing a ‘reserve’ satellite in orbit. The programme, procured as a Private Finance Initiative (PFI), provides the next generation of UK milsatcom capability. The Paradigm team includes Astrium Satellites, the system designer and provider. For further information visit paradigmsecure.com

In addition to complete X-band packages, Paradigm is able to offer capacity, coverage augmentation, anchoring and back-haul services, as well as terminal leasing.

From the outset, Paradigm planned for the Skynet 5 system to be far more capable and larger than that required to meet the UK MoD requirements. Paradigm is, therefore, able to offer services to other militaries and government organisations and has supplied milsatcom services to NATO, the Netherlands, Portugal, Canada, France, Germany and Australia.

Paradigm's WelComE services enables service personnel to make telephone calls and have access to the Internet from operational theatres worldwide, as part of the MoD funded welfare package. Paradigm has provided over a million hours of welfare telephone calls and provides Internet and email services that are free for use to all UK service personnel deployed on operations overseas.

Astrium Services Astrium Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS Astrium, offers a unique ‘one-stop shop’ in the satellite services market, with unrivalled capability and expertise in secure communications, Earth observation services and navigation services. The European provider of milsatcom services, including the pioneering Skynet 5 service, and a world-leading supplier of geo-information products and services, Astrium Services meets its customers' requirements with innovative and highly competitive end-to-end solutions.

In 2008, Astrium had a turnover of €4.3 billion and more than 15,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Its three main areas of activity are Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure, Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment and Astrium Services for the development and delivery of satellite services.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2008, EADS generated revenues of €43.3 billion and employed a workforce of more than 118, 000.

Contact for the media:

Emily Milsom Paradigm T: +44 (0)1438 282066 E: [email protected]

Jeremy Close Astrium UK T +44 (0)1438 773872 E: [email protected]

Paradigm developed the TextLink satellite communication system under contract with the UK Ministry of Defence to provide welfare communications for early-entry troops deployed in areas where other communication infrastructure is not available. Soldiers in the field can use the portable, lightweight TextLink terminals to send and receive e-mails, SMS short text messages, both Royal Mail and BFPO postal letters, as well as providing the very latest daily news in text format.

Each TextLink package consists of one hardened flight case containing one Iridium 9505 satellite phone and two ruggedized laptop computers. As a minimum, two packages are deployed to create a wireless local-area network. One of the laptops serves as a local server and is connected to one of the Iridium 9505 satphones. The other laptops are deployed within the range of the wireless connection around the camp for troops to use. The second Iridium satphone provides backup and can be used for voice calls as needed. The system compresses and bundles emails, SMS messages and letters for transmission through the Iridium satellites at regular intervals.

"We designed TextLink to be easy to use with very little training and maintenance, making it ideal for scenarios ranging from early-entry forces to reconnaissance missions," said Peter Bruton, Managing Director of Paradigm Services Ltd. "The system incorporates the latest technologies to provide a light, robust and resilient service for rapid deployment. We use compression, intelligent dialing, store-and-forward, full-duplex operation and interactive account management techniques to provide a highly cost-effective service."

Greg Ewert, Executive Vice President of Iridium Satellite, said, "We are proud to be able to provide vital welfare communications for British troops deployed around the world. Iridium's global coverage, robust data services and lightweight mobile user equipment are ideal for this application."

Thousands of deployed personnel who will be away from family and friends this Christmas are to be given an extra special present - one hour’s free talk time.

Operational troops routinely receive 30 minutes of free talk time each week from the Ministry of Defence which can be used to make phone calls. Troops also have access to the Internet and are able to email home.

This year during the festive period, troops will receive an additional 30 minutes from both the MoD and communications company Paradigm, meaning that they will be able to chat , email and message friends and loved ones for an extra hour.

Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth said:

“We are thrilled that Paradigm is providing these extra minutes this Christmas as I know it will make a difference to those serving away from their families.”

“We take our commitment to the welfare of our troops seriously and believe that it is vital they are able to communicate with family and friends on a regular basis.”

“We have worked hard with Paradigm to provide what the troops ask of us and they are now able to make calls from the front line as well as send emails and chat on MSN.

“We believe that this service is vital in maintaining moral and ensuring that the troops are able to carry out their jobs to the best of their ability.”

Flight Lieutenant Andy Wilson, who is responsible for assisting the delivery of service to troops in Afghanistan, said:

“Christmas can be a difficult time for the troops and their families and we hope that this goes some way in making this separation a little easier.

“This extra hour will allow families to share their news over the festive period, for mother’s and fathers to have that extra bit of time to chat with their children and for the troops to feel as part of the celebrations as possible.”

“Communication is vital to the morale of our personnel and the wellbeing of their loved ones at home, especially around this time of year. I have served away from home and the knowledge that you are able to call and receive messages from loved ones is a huge reassurance. I hope that this extra time over Christmas will help to bring troops and their families and friends closer together.”

Managing Director of Paradigm, Keith Norton said: “We provide the troops the ability to communicate home even in the most hostile of environments. The WelComE service is supported by our engineers in-theatre and the WelComE Customer Contact Centre back in the UK, who work hard to ensure that deployed personnel remain in contact with their families and friends. Paradigm is proud to support British troops; the WelComE service is key to boosting morale and we are pleased to be able to support this additional free talk time over the festive season."

Talk time is part of WelComE (Welfare Communications Everywhere) project and is just one way that troops can keep in touch with their families and friends whilst they are serving away.

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.

Paradigm has recently featured in the 'Desider' publication for its service order agreement with DE&S to provide secure satellite communications through the Skynet system to their first two 'Astute' class submarines.

Please see attached to view the full article.

François Auque, CEO of Astrium, said: "Completing the Skynet 5 fleet with the successful launch of Skynet 5C is a remarkable milestone and I congratulate the combined teams across Astrium. We are already providing significantly enhanced services to the UK Ministry of Defence with Skynet satellites 5A and 5B, through our subsidiary Paradigm, and Skynet 5C is the pinnacle achievement for this programme.

"It’s a triple success for Astrium. As prime contractor for the launcher Ariane 5, for the satellites, and also for the services provided, we have proved that Astrium is well and truly capable of providing a world-class secure military communications system from start to finish."

Malcolm Peto, Managing Director of Paradigm said: "The Skynet 5 programme has been carefully planned for more than 10 years with meticulous detail given to delivering the best possible milsatcom services to the UK Ministry of Defence. This latest success will ensure we continue to provide our customers with nothing but the best – and I would like to thank all the individuals who contributed to this fantastic achievement."

Paradigm, part of Astrium Services, as owner and operator of the Skynet 5 system, is responsible for delivering secure communications services as part of a service provision contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) until 2020. Following the successful launches of Skynet 5A in March 2007 and Skynet 5B in November 2007, Paradigm is already providing enhanced secure services to the UK MoD.

Astrium Space Transportation is prime contractor for the Ariane 5 system, responsible for the delivery of fully integrated and tested launch vehicles to Arianespace.

Astrium Satellites is responsible for the Skynet 5 satellites and the complete communications system. Following launch, Skynet 5C, designed and built by Astrium Satellites, will now undergo a period of intensive in-orbit testing of both satellite and payload before moving to its operational position at 17.8°W.

Skynet 5C is the third satellite that completes the new constellation to meet the UK MoD’s milsatcoms requirements.

Following the successful launch at 22.05 GMT, Skynet 5C is currently in its low Earth orbit phase, which began with partial deployment of the solar panels. Skynet 5C will then reach its geostationary orbit, followed by the deployment of the UHF receivers and transmitters and a full testing programme will commence before the first operations begin.

The achievements of the Skynet 5 programme are underpinned by effective partnering between the MoD and industry. Paradigm, Astrium Satellites, Serco, Logica, EADS DS and the MoD have worked together to make the project a success for all the stakeholders.

Astrium, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems and services. In 2007, Astrium had a turnover of €3.5 billion and 12,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Its three main areas of activity are Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure, and Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment, and its wholly owned subsidiary Astrium Services for the development and delivery of satellite services.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2007, EADS generated revenues of €39.1 billion and employed a workforce of more than 116, 000.