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Paradigm delivers early to Belgian Ministry of Defence
Paradigm Secure Communications last week launched its welfare telephone and Internet service for the Belgian Ministry of Defence ahead of schedule. Following contract signature on 16th October, the Company committed to service availability within 60 days, which was easily met thanks to Paradigm's close partnership with the Belgian MOD and its robust planning processes.
Paradigm's primary contact at the Belgian HQ in Kosovo, Cpt Erwin Thaets from the BELUROKOS 8 contingent, commented on Paradigm's high quality welfare communications service "It's incredible - there's no echo, no delay and I could recognise my daughter's voice".
Paradigm was able to offer the Belgian MOD telephone / Internet cabins reassigned from a UK military exercise in Oman to provide a timely and cost-effective solution. The cabins arrived in Greece in late November and were moved to their operational sites in Kosovo by a local civilian contractor.
The Belgian Ministry of Defence allows its Service personnel to use e-mail and Internet facilities free of charge and to phone home every week. Users can choose to augment their welfare allowance to make additional calls to virtually anywhere in the world at their own expense.
The introduction of the Belgian service is being used to validate Paradigm's Skynet 5 service models and processes. Paradigm was able to deliver these services within such tight timescales by the effective management of people from 8 different organisations which ensured service delivery ahead of schedule. Contractors include ServiTel, Paradigm's switching authority for the Belgian contract, Cable & Wireless providing the satellite bandwidth, Logistica as in-country agents and CDSCA, the Belgian NAAFI equivalent, selling additional phone cards.
Paradigm Secure Communications was formed by Astrium, Europe's largest Space Company, to address the emerging military communications services market and is currently bidding for the UK Skynet 5 satcom service provision contract. Astrium's expertise in milsatcoms makes Paradigm the natural choice to support military forces on overseas operations.
ASTRIUM is a joint venture owned 75% by EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company and 25% by BAE SYSTEMS. In 2000 Astrium had a combined turnover of 2.03 billion Euros, covering science and Earth observation, military observation and communications, telecommunications, navigation and ground systems, launchers and orbital infrastructure. The Company employs over 8,000 employees in France, Germany, United Kingdom and Spain.
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