Paradigm awarded Skynet 5 contract
This unique PFI approach provides the MOD with significant benefits, for example allowing the use of system capacity as and when required, enabling a hi-tech solution with regular technology upgrades and also ensuring that risk is transferred to the contractor. Skynet 5 will prove better value for money than asset procurement, as Paradigm will offer spare capacity to MOD-approved overseas governments and international organisations such as NATO.
Malcolm Peto, Managing Director, Paradigm Secure Communications Limited, said “Paradigm is delighted to have achieved contract signature and made such a successful start to the programme. We recently took over operation of the existing UK Skynet 4 satellites and ground segment, and from today, are delivering services to a number of overseas customers. Paradigm and its team members now look forward to developing this innovative concept into a reality and delivering secure, reliable, cost effective communications services to UK and other nations’ Armed Forces around the world.”
The Skynet 5 contract extends through to 2018 and the programme revenues could be worth more than £2.5bn over this time. The Skynet 5 contract is awarded to Paradigm Secure Communications, the contractual entity responsible for meeting the UK MOD requirements; for seeking to capture overseas business; and for the relationship with its lead banks (BNP-Paribas, CIBC and HSBC) and financial advisor Citigroup. Paradigm Secure Communications’ two primary subcontractors are Paradigm Services for end-to-end service delivery, including network maintenance, customer support and technical refresh, and EADS Astrium for the design and implementation of at least two new Skynet 5 satellites, upgrades to existing UK ground control stations, provision of a new fleet of land terminals and full upgrades for the SCOT communications terminals onboard Royal Navy ships.
The Paradigm team brings together industry leaders in the fields of communications and service provision including Serco for satellite operations, LogicaCMG for software infrastructure, EADS Telecom (Cogent DSN) for the baseband network and encryption systems, General Dynamics Decision Systems for Iridium services, Stratos for Inmarsat services and Cable & Wireless for commercial satcom services.
For further information or images please contact:
Mary Walmsley on +44 (0)1438 774419 or
The Paradigm Companies
The Paradigm team was selected as the MOD’s ‘Preferred Bidder’ – part of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) process - for the provision of military satellite communications (milsatcoms) services in Spring 2002. All parties involved have spent the time since then finalising the details of this major programme, which is the first time milsatcoms have been delivered in this way.
Paradigm Secure Communications is leading the Paradigm team and was formed in 1999 to address the emerging military satellite communications services market. For Skynet 5, Paradigm Secure Communications will contract with Paradigm Services for full service delivery, and EADS Astrium for the Skynet 5 satellites and ground systems. Operating from sites at Stevenage, Portsmouth and Oakhanger, and co-located with the Defence Communication Services Agency (DCSA) at Corsham, Paradigm Secure Communications and Paradigm Services are wholly owned subsidiaries of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, EADS.
Under Skynet 5, Paradigm will deliver a secure global satellite communications service over a 15 year contract period. The programme will provide a range of services, including global mobile voice communications, video conferencing, multimedia-based communications and broadcast communications, as well as supplying a versatile range of shipborne and land-based terminals, for purchase or lease.
The PFI concept enables Paradigm to market it services to other governments and multinational organisations. The services that it is providing to customers currently are under governmental MOU arrangements. However, in the near future Paradigm hopes to sign up additional direct customers for its milsatcom services.
Paradigm Services has already commenced delivery of initial services by taking over the operation of the existing Skynet 4 infrastructure from the MOD on 30 May 2003. It will now gradually commence introduction of new Skynet 5 ground segment upgrades and in due course, the new Skynet 5 satellites.
Using a commercial organisation such as Paradigm to operate the Skynet 5 service, offers a highly flexible approach, allowing new service-based products and technological advancements to be brought into the military arena more rapidly than ever before. The Skynet 5 concept allows the seamless integration of the Skynet 4 satellites, followed by the Skynet 5 spacecraft, combined with a variety of commercial carriers and terminals, tailored to the user’s requirements.
Paradigm Services has been providing global welfare communications services to the UK MOD since October 1999, under the Project WELCOME contract. This highly successful programme delivers telephone and Internet services to enable troops on operational duty overseas to keep in touch with friends and family back home. This service is a significant element of the support structure put in place for Operation Telic and on-going operations in the Gulf region.
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The Skynet 5 satellites will be built using the new high-power E3000 variant of EADS Astrium’s well-proven Eurostar spacecraft. 23 Eurostar-based satellites have been successfully launched in the last decade and, between them, have accumulated over 160 years of operational life. Each Skynet 5 spacecraft will have a launch mass of around 5 tonnes, compared to 1.6 tonnes for Skynet 4F, and a payload power of 5kW, up to 4 times the power of Skynet 4.
Contact: Alistair Scott +44 (0) 1438 773698 [email protected]
Cogent DSN and Skynet 5
Cogent Defence & Security Networks Limited (Cogent) is a lead supplier of secure end-to-end communication solutions to the UK MOD. Cogent has successfully delivered key communications programmes to the UK military including LDCN, RTTS, DLAN, POLYGON, RODIN, CFTS, DIGIFITS and is currently working on CORMORANT, CIRCE, Hourglass and the communication security for BOWMAN. Cogent brings all of this communications experience and expertise to the Paradigm team for the delivery of the UK's next generation Skynet 5 military satellite communications service. Cogent will provide network baseband and cryptographic equipment, and support system integration.
Cogent is the UK operation of EADS TELECOM and is a world leader in supplying communication systems to support military, peacekeeping and civil operations. Based at Newport in South Wales, over 600 staff design, develop and deliver innovative communications solutions worldwide.
EADS TELECOM is a leading player in the development of voice and data infrastructure networks for the armed forces of both France and Germany and is a world leader in the field of secure digital radio networks, with 70 networks deployed and in operation in 31 countries, including 13 European countries.
Contact: Mike Greenway Tel: +44 (0)1633 292024
General Dynamics Decision Systems and Skynet 5
General Dynamics Decision Systems (formerly Motorola Integrated Information Systems Group), operating from its United Kingdom facility, was selected as a valued Skynet 5 partner due to its 45 years of experience as a space communication sub-systems and space payload electronics supplier.
General Dynamics will continue to supply the Iridium services and will also help Paradigm to define new Iridium services and manage their integration and life cycle, as well as partake in the development of third party and Skynet 5 service enhancement opportunities.
Currently, General Dynamics Decision Systems is providing situational awareness capabilities to the Ministry of Defence including ground stations and software for the Airborne Stand-Off Radar programme (ASTOR).
Contact: John Winstanley Tel: +44 (0)1276 28200
LogicaCMG and Skynet 5
Skynet 5 service operations and support will be dependent on software provided by LogicaCMG. As the prime contractor for this Skynet 5 software, LogicaCMG is combining its extensive Commercial and Defence expertise to undertake the development and operations of the Skynet Management System. Paradigm has taken on the management of the current Skynet 4 infrastructure and this will be enhanced by the introduction of the new Skynet 5 services.
LogicaCMG is a leading supplier to the MOD, Intelligence community, European space industry and international contractors supplying the armed forces. With a history of more than 30 years of successfully providing services to the MOD, LogicaCMG will ensure that Skynet 5 benefits from the latest in telecommunication service applications, and that software risks are controlled with a full understanding of defence operational implications.
LogicaCMG is a global solutions company providing management and IT consultancy, systems integration and outsourcing services. With additional expertise in wireless technology, the company supports clients across diverse markets including telecoms, financial services, energy and utilities, industry, distribution and transport and the public sector.
Formed in December 2002 through the merger of Logica and CMG the company employs around 21,000 staff in offices across 34 countries and has nearly 40 years of experience in the IT service arena. Headquartered in Europe, LogicaCMG is listed on both the London and Amsterdam stock exchanges. More information is available from www.logicacmg.com.
Contact: Jennifer Peters Tel: 0207 4464615
Serco and Skynet 5
Serco has been an integral part of the Paradigm team since the award of the PFI Study Contract to Astrium (who initially led the bid before the two Paradigm companies were established separately) and will provide Network and Facilities Management Services to the Skynet 5 programme. This will include Spacecraft and Network Operations, Network Maintenance, Training, Supply Management and Through Life Buildings & Facilities Maintenance.
Serco is an international provider of management services to government and industry. It provides task management, operational and logistical support services to the UK Ministry of Defence, to NATO defence forces, the United States Department of Defense, Canadian Department of National Defense, merchant marine and related sectors.
Serco employs more than 34,000 people in 36 countries, dedicated to providing its customers with high quality, cost effective services. Central to Serco's approach are life-cycle value for money, customer satisfaction, consistent performance and long-term commitment, which have led to partnerships with military customers stretching back 40 years and the retention of 90% of its defence contracts on re-tender.
Contact: Katherine Stedman Tel +44 (0)1256 745914
Cable & Wireless and Skynet 5
Cable & Wireless will provide Paradigm with tailored communications solutions to fulfill the requirements of the Skynet 5 programme. These national and international solutions will include satellite, VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) and bandwidth services.
Cable & Wireless is one of the world's leading international communications companies with revenue of over £4.3 billion in the year to 31 March 2003. For 130 years it has constantly reinvented itself to embrace the latest technological advances to serve its customers' needs.
Cable & Wireless' principal operations are in the United Kingdom, continental Europe, the United States, Japan, the Caribbean, Panama, the Middle East and Macau.
Cable & Wireless provides voice, data and IP (Internet Protocol) services to business and residential customers, as well as services to other telecoms carriers, mobile operators and providers of content, applications and internet services. With the capability of its global IP infrastructure and its financial strength, Cable & Wireless holds a unique position in terms of global coverage and services to business customers.
For more information about Cable & Wireless, please go to www.cw.com
Contact: Bert Neo Tel +44 (0) 20 7674 5508
Stratos and Skynet 5
Stratos plays a unique role within the Paradigm team as provider of secure, reliable Inmarsat services in association with strategic partners, ensuring the provision of vital remote satellite communications solutions to the Skynet 5 project.
A leading supplier of global remote commercial satellite telecommunications to the UK, US and Canadian armed forces amongst others, Stratos provides communications facilities that are secure, reliable and can be used in areas of the world where other forms of communications are not available.
Offering a wide range of solutions including voice, fax, data and IP via the full range of Inmarsat products and services, Iridium and VSAT services, Stratos is the only land earth station operator to have a wholly owned global network, with earth stations in Goonhilly, Cornwall, UK and Auckland, New Zealand. The most recent network addition has been the introduction of the 5th Ocean region coverage, Indian Ocean Region-West, this service has delivered extra connectivity for the the high usage services, in the current high activity area. Stratos is also an integral provider of the Inmarsat Welfare services on land and at sea.
Stratos alongside its partners will continue to provide high quality secure Inmarsat solutions into the defence market place working as part of the Paradigm team.
Contact: Andrew Hyde Tel +44 (0)207 562 4814 @stratosglobal.com
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