Astrium Services, the global provider of satellite communications-enabled solutions, reports that it has delivered extended Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) capability to an iron-ore mining company based in Guinea.

This ensures that there is available satellite connectivity between production sites and hybrid satellite/terrestrial connectivity to its headquarters, in the UK, through the new Post Office Protocol (POP), in Paris.

Customers of the new system are promised high end-to-end network performance by using multiple satellite networks and terres- trial connections, which act as the single point of contact for the entire network, regardless of the topology used.

Astrium Services has improved their hybrid network offering to allow for reliable, secure and always available communications to mining companies operating in remote areas that have a poor signal.

The company is a key communications provider in the mining industry and provides fully managed communication services for governments and private enterprises.

An extension of Astrium Services’ MPLS capabilities, which has been established through the new POP, has led to service improvements.

By combining the extended MPLS connection of Astrium Services with satellite services, customers can benefit from reliable and affordable high-speed connectivity, which supports mining operations.

The company provides an integrated corporate Windows Process Activation Service solution, and an end-to-end service legal agreement ensures that there is always connectivity available and optimum network performance.

This latest extension to its capabilities includes a mini NNI, or network-to-network interface, with connections to the Astrium Services teleports, in Toulouse and Aussaguel, in France, enabling reliable, predictable and secure global connectivity that can be used for mining sites worldwide.

“With higher performance guarantees made possible through our strong MPLS capabilities, the customer can operate business-critical online applications with high availability, which supports operational efficiency between sites in Guinea and the UK,” says Astrium Services head of business communications Danny Cote.

Mining houses can benefit from flexible cross-border communications, by using improved MPLS capabilities that enable Astrium Services to develop hybrid networks with full mesh technology.

“The MPLS extension secures Astrium Services’ ability to provide single wide area networks for our mining industry customers, combining services across our own teleports,” says Cote.

“We can integrate Very Small Apeture Terminal (VSAT), and terrestrial services to deliver the ideal competitive package for customers seeking flexible and manageable international private networks. Hybrid networks based on MPLS enable customers to communicate across global sites as if they were connected to the same local switch, and have the confidence to know that, should there be an issue with their connectivity, they can come to us for expert support on all parts of the network.”

Astrium Services offer VSAT and terrestrial connectivity for secure corporate communication in 138 countries. Several MPLS extension agreements are in place between Astrium Services and other companies, such as Pacific Century CyberWorks Global, in Hong Kong, which offers a comprehensive hybrid network portfolio, based on the MPLS capabilities of its partners and its own VSAT service expertise.

Astrium is the number-one space tech- nology company in Europe and is ranked among the top three space technology companies worldwide. It is the only com- pany that covers the equipment and services of a full range of civil and defence space systems. The company employs more than 18 000 employees and had a turnover of over €5.8-billion in 2012.

Astrium Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2012, the group comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter generated revenues of €56.5-billion and employs a workforce of more than 140 000.