Astrium helps Irish soldiers in Chad keep in touch with family and friends

Paris.- Astrium Services has been selected by the Irish Department of Defence to deliver end-to-end welfare satellite communication services to its troops deployed overseas in Chad across three camps.

Astrium Services will provide Internet access with dedicated and guaranteed throughput to enable the Irish soldiers to stay in touch with their families and friends around the world at any time. The Irish troops will also have access by telephone to a free English speaking customer support desk open 24/7.



Astrium Services currently also provides telephone and Internet welfare communications services to French troops deployed overseas in Afghanistan, Chad, Lebanon and Kosovo. This service for 7,000 troops is part of a four year contract named Passerel. Astrium Services, through its subsidiary Paradigm, also provides welfare communication services to all UK armed forces deployed overseas as part of the Skynet 5 programme. This service is provided to 17,000 British Servicemen and women deployed globally until at least 2020.

Astrium, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems and services. 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.