The Nigerian Communication Satellite Ltd (NigComSat) revealed that it plans to acquire 2 more satellites by 2025, in a bid to increase its operational capacity and global profile.
This was disclosed on Thursday by its Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) NIGCOMSAT, Abimbola Alale, at its stakeholder forum, held at the Providence Hotel, Ikeja, themed: “NigComSat Ltd, The Present and the Future.”
“For us at NigComSat Ltd, the future is bright. The support we have enjoyed from our ministry has inspired us to do more,” Alale said.
“l am pleased to inform you of our desire to acquire more satellites between now and 2025 with the NigComSat-2 High Throughput Satellite, due for launch in 2023, and the NigComSat-3 that will be launched in 2025.
“This will not only inspire confidence in our customers and channel partners, but also place NigComSat Ltd in the front line of communication satellite operators with a fleet of satellites in orbit,” she said.
They added that plans to provide an advanced satellite communication solution are a “modest contribution” to the nation’s digital economy service infrastructure, which cannot be overemphasized; citing NIGCOMSAT as one of the key players recognized by the Nigeria National Broadband Plan (NNPB 2020-2025).
“As part of VSAT/TVRO capacity development programme, NIGCOMSAT has trained 600 youths across the six geo-political zones in the country,” Alale said.
They also revealed that trained personnel would be actively involved in the digital economy to boost Nigeria’s economy, adding that Nigerian youths have been equipped with tools to participate in growing the digital economy.
“Satellite communications is a technology that is rapidly changing. In view of this, NIGCOMAT has continued to build capacity that matches global trends and requirements,” they said.
They revealed that in 2020, NIGCOMSAT with the support of some of the stakeholders, sponsored four teams, Astromania, Flows, Future Generations, and Pyloops, to compete in the ActInSpace® international innovation contest of 100 cities across five continents.
“Nigeria won the audience award, which was based on the popularity of the video created by Team Astromania to provide information about their solution,” Alale said.
“Quality of service and customer experience are very important in service delivery. NIGCOMSAT has acquired the latest DIALOG HUB with 5IF for the satellite broadband Ka services, as well as built a stronger relationship with our channel partners.
“Our business processes are seamless in accordance with International Standard Organisation’s (ISO) certification,” she added.
Alale said NIGCOMSAT obtained approval early in 2020 to form two subsidiary companies (SUBCOs); the Satellite Infrastructure Company (SIC), in a bid to achieve its ambition as the leading satellite communication solutions provider in Nigeria and Africa.
“They are to provide satellite upstream services such as Transponder leasing, and In-Orbit-(IOT) services, Carrier Spectrum Management (CSM) services, and the Satellite Broadcasting and Broadband Company (SBBC); and to provide satellite downstream services, such as broadband internet services, Broadcasting (DTH) services etc,” she said.
She added that the SUBCOs were formed to carry out commercial businesses on behalf of NIGCOMSAT with strategic partners and expand its business operations in the information and communications technology space.
“NIGCOMSAT realises the need to strategically position its subsidiaries for potential opportunities and risks, put in place by operational structures to facilitate its business aspirations,” Alale added.
In case you missed it
Nairametrics reported earlier this year that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) announced that it signed an MoU for the use of the C-Band Spectrum to boost 5G services in Nigeria with the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited.
“In recent times, precisely from the last quarter of 2019, several administrations have begun to license Spectrum for commercial deployment of 5G. Today, 5G services have already been deployed in the United States of America, South Korea and many more countries.
5G will build on this momentum, bringing substantial network improvements, including higher connection speeds, mobility and capacity, as well as low-latency capabilities,” the NCC said.
The NCC added that 5G will also provide massive machine-type communications, where a lot of devices will seamlessly connect and independently interact with the internet without human intervention.
