Netherlands Gets Access to Skynet Secure Communications

Released on Friday, September 08, 2006

Paradigm Secure Communications Ltd., a subsidiary of EADS SPACE, has today signed an export contract to deliver military satellite communications services to the Netherlands Ministry of Defence.

This contract forms the second part of a unique, two-phased approach where Paradigm provides managed secure communications services to the Netherlands MoD. The first phase, with an interim contract already in-place, gives the Netherlands MoD direct access to secure satellite communications over the Skynet 4 system, on an as-and-when required basis until the end of December 2006.

The second phase contract signed today runs from 1st January 2007, and will see full service provision provided using a combination of the existing Skynet 4 and the new Skynet 5 systems. Thanks to the state of the art performance of Skynet 5 and to the flexible approach, this will enhance the Netherlands MoD communications capability in remote areas, facilitate its role in national and allied operations, and enable cost-effective management of these resources.

The Netherlands MoD will be guaranteed an aggregate level of service, defined by the amount of data transferred, measured in Mbps, with the flexibility to increase the total throughput in the event of a change in requirements.

Malcolm Peto, Managing Director of Paradigm Secure Communications, said: "Whilst NATO has put a Memorandum of Understanding in place to gain access to Skynet 5, the Netherlands is the first nation to procure Skynet 5 era services, I believe this demonstrates the confidence that Paradigm is building within the MilSatCom community for providing state-of-the-art solutions for secure and survivable government communications at the highest levels of service assurance. Skynet 5 will offer unrivalled services in MilSatComs through the highest powered, most resilient X-band satellites yet launched. We are delighted to be able to offer the Netherlands MoD access to this increasingly important military resource."

Captain Hans van der Wal, Head of the Netherlands MilSatCom Project Team said: "In the overall provision of MilSatCom to the Netherlands Armed Forces, these contracted services in X-band are most essential. In the overall spectrum, these assured satellite communications will form the backbone means of communications for our deployed troops. Although the Royal Netherlands Navy has been using Paradigm's Skynet 4 services on her ships for several years, in our new MoD organisation, the overall MilSatCom capacity required for all armed services has been defined and aggregated.

It has been a long process to consider, phrase and communicate exactly what needs to be delivered and I am therefore very happy that we have achieved this framework contract with Paradigm today. A very substantial piece in the overall Netherlands MoD satcom jigsaw."