Ipad - Imessage and Facetime error logging on

Cannot log into Imessage and Facetime - Error is "Facetime Activation - Unable to contact the Facetime Server. Try Again." Had this ipad and everything was working until recently. This is the error message for the last 3-4 weeks. Asks for my id and password and then after a minute or so, get the above message. Ipad is logged on (can see on my laptop that ipad is connected when I log into my apple account). Just backed up a few minutes ago, manually, and was successful.