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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.