Nigeria to commission new communication satellite
Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) announced that the country’s much-awaited Communication Satellite will be commissioned from China on 19 December. The announcement comes only four months after the launch of NigeriaSat X.
Nigeria will commission a new satellite towards the end of December (image: Optus)
The new satellite, which is to be known as NigComSat – 1R, is set to replace NigcomSat-1, which was sent into orbit in 2008.
NASRDA’s Director-General Dr. S. O. Mohammed said that the satellite will operate in four different bands (C, Ku, Ka and L) and has been enhanced to deliver a better service.
“The communication satellite has a minimum life-span of 15 years with payloads of seven antennae and 28 transponders, with additional 12 transponders to address redundancy”, Mohammed added.
But NigComSat – 1R is only the first step in the satellite program. “We plan to double the capacity by providing telecommunication services by commencing the development of two additional communication satellites in the next two years”.
Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Ita Okon Bassey-Ewa, added that it’s important for the country to make strides in science and technology. “There is no better time than now for all of us to come together with the aim of articulating our collective wishes, dreams and aspirations into reality through the instrumentality of science and technology,” he said.
Charlie Fripp – Acting Online editor
