By 
Nigeria’s publicly owned communication satellite company, NIGCOMSAT Ltd, has announced plans to launch two new satellites to join its fleet: NigComSat-2 by 2023 and NigComSat-3 by 2025.
The two satellites will replace NigComSat 1R expected to expire in 2026.
“l am pleased to inform stakeholders of our desire to acquire more satellites between now and 2025 with the NigComSat-2 (Hight Throughput Satellite) due for launch in 2023 while NigComSat-3 will be launched in 2025,” said Managing Director/CEO of NIGCOMSAT, Dr. Abimbola Alale at the 2021 edition of the NIGCOMSAT Stakeholders Forum in Lagos.
RELATED ASECNA Partners NIGCOMSAT And Thales Alenia To Provide First African Early SBAS Open Service
She added: “This will not only inspire confidence in our customers and channel partners but will also place NIGCOMSAT Ltd in the front line of communication satellite operators with fleet of satellites in the orbit.”
She said the NigComSat-2 project is still in its preliminary phase as only the Request for Proposals (RFP) has been sent out.
NigComSat-2, a High throughput satellite (HTS) with a total throughput of 300 Gbps, will be a launched as a public-private partnership (PPP). The satellite will also include triband spacecraft – C band for Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TT&C) systems to provide the most vital telecommunication link between a satellite and ground station; Ka-band; and Ku-band.
The orbital slot for the NigComSat-2 will either be 9.5 degrees west or 16 degrees west, based on the orbital filling with International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
She also added that the communication satellite will have several applications spanning direct-to-home (DTH) broadcasting service, telemedicine, Tele-education, broadband services and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions.
NIGCOMSAT to form two subsidiary companies
NIGCOMSAT Ltd has been given the nod to form two subsidiary companies (SUBCOs), Alale said.
The approval given in 2020 allows to operate via the two SUBCOs namely: Satellite Infrastructure Company (SIC) and Satellite Broadcasting and Broadband Company (SBBC).
The SIC will focus on providing satellite upstream services such as transponder leasing, in-orbit services, and Carrier Spectrum Management (CSM) services.
The SBBC is being designed to offer satellite downstream services such as broadband Internet services and broadcasting (DTH) services.
