The Defence Space Administration (DSA) has expressed interest for ‘independent transponders’ on the two satellites, NigComSat 2&3 in the works for launch by the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Ltd.
RELATED: NIGCOMSAT launches digital health platform to serve over 1.7m Nigerians
The Chief of DSA, Air Vice Marshal, Ahmed Shinkafi expressed this interest during a recent engagement with the Managing Director/CEO of NIGCOMSAT, Tukur Mohammed Lawal and the management team of the satellite company in Abuja.
Furthermore, the DSA Chief stated that his agency is interested on ‘independent transponder’ on the two satellites (NigComSat 2&3) to be launched in no distant time.
Shinkafi, who lauded NIGCOMSAT for the different amenities including broadband services it has provided the DSA on its communications satellite, NigComSat-1R, requested for more collaborations between the civilian satellite operator and the military operator.
While expressing gratitude to NIGCOMSAT for the continuous training of DSA staff, he said the L-band payload which he described “very dear to their heart” should have a fit-in design to accommodate DSA’s unique requirements on the design of NigComSat 2&3.
Lawal affirmed desire of NIGGCOMSA to strengthen its partnership with the DSA and expressed the company’s commitment to promote space administration in the country.
The two organisations will be working to sign off on an MoU in August to seal the transponder deal NigComSat 2&3.
A member of the DSA team, Navy Commodore Chris Anuge (rtd) said the DSA has launched its satellite known as Nsat-1 and urged NIGCOMSAT to take advantage of the military satellite as part of the collaborations between the two organisations.