NIGERIA ORDERS NEW SATELLITE TO EXPAND DIGITAL REACH ACROSS AFRICA

Nigeria has signed a contract with Thales Alenia Space, a French-Italian aerospace company, for the development of a new geostationary communications satellite known as NigComSat-2A. The agreement was reached with the government-owned Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited, NIGCOMSAT, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s satellite communications capacity and expand reliable digital connectivity across Africa.

NigComSat-2A will provide services including television broadcasting, broadband internet, voice communications and streaming, with particular attention to underserved and remote communities. Its coverage is expected to stretch from West and Central Africa to Southern Africa, allowing households, businesses, government institutions and industries to access satellite-based communication services in areas where terrestrial infrastructure is limited or difficult to deploy.

The satellite is expected to have a launch mass of nearly four tonnes and an operational life of more than 15 years. It will be built on Thales Alenia Space’s Spacebus B2 platform, with the project designed to provide greater flexibility and resilience for Africa’s communications infrastructure as demand for internet access and digital services continues to grow.

NIGCOMSAT Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nkechi Jane Egerton-Idehen, said the project would strengthen Nigeria’s satellite communications capabilities while extending reliable broadband and other digital services to millions of Africans. She described the partnership as an important step towards improving connectivity, supporting innovation and creating greater economic opportunities through digital technology.

Thales Alenia Space is a joint venture owned by France’s Thales, which holds 67 per cent, and Italy’s Leonardo, which owns the remaining 33 per cent. The new satellite is expected to complement Nigeria’s existing satellite infrastructure and help reduce connectivity gaps across the continent, particularly in communities where conventional telecom networks remain inadequate.