Nigeria is working with China to develop and launch two new satellites according to the Nigeria Communication Satellite Limited (NigComSat).
This week, NigComSat announced it is working with China Great Wall Industry Cooperation (CGWIC) for the new satellite projects.
Samson Osagie, NigComSat’s Executive Director, Marketing and Business Development, told newsmen in Abuja that the two satellites will be launched within 3 years and would be in space for 15 years. They are expected to replace Nigeria’s current satellite, NigComSat-1 which is seven years old.
Osagie said: “NIGCOMSAT is collaborating with China Great Wall Industry Cooperation and we are negotiating to launch additional two satellites in 36 months. Presently, Nigeria does not have the capital to build and finance its own satellite which is why the collaboration is needed.”
He revealed that the first satellite by Nigeria was launched in 2007 but had issues and was de-orbited. It was later re-launched in 2011 which makes it seven years now.
“The life span of a satellite is 15 years, which means that the first one is still functional and it is important to note that negotiations for projects like this take time,” Osagie said.
The new satellites will provide telecommunication, maritime, defence and broadcast media services; they would also serve Africa, parts of Asia and others.
The two satellites would be launched separately and discussions are ongoing regarding their operations.
