Perhaps nothing distinguishes Man from all other creatures as much as his ability and his desire to communicate. Satellite technology, in a few short decades, has radically revolutionized how we communicate. Making connections When, in 1945, science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke published an article in the magazine 'Wireless World' describing the possibility of a global communications network based on three geosynchronous orbit (that is, with the same period of rotation as the Earth), reactions were skeptical, to say the least. No-one at the time could remotely imagine the immense developments in store for space communications. Today, millions of users around the globe routinely use satellite services for a vast array of applications in work, for leisure, or

The UK MoD's Skynet 5 program is delivering secure global satellite communications services under a groundbreaking Private Finance Initiative (PFI) approach pioneered by Astrium Services' subsidiary Paradigm, the first commercial provider of secure military communications services. Under the contract, signed in 2003, the MoD transferred ownership and operation of the existing Skynet 4 infrastructure to Paradigm, and the company is procuring and managing the introduction into service of three new-generation Skynet 5 satellites (due for launch in 2007-2008 ), a major upgrade of the fixed terrestrial infrastructure, networks and management systems in the UK and provision of a range of new terminals. All UK secure satellite communications needs, including maintenance and operation of the complete