NigComSat-1 in orbit
The Federal Government is to launch into orbit a replacement satellite for the Nigeria Communication Satellite 1R.
The Board Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Satellite Company, NIGCOMSAT, Mr. Yusuf Kazaure stated this on Wednesday during a one-day retreat for management staff of the company with the theme “Redefining NIGCOMSAT for Exponential Growth”.
Mallam Kazaure explained that the present satellite 1R launched in partnership with the Chinese Government into orbit in 2011 would be replaced within the next two years with the hope of utilizing it for environmental protection, media, and digital services.
He said the company required huge funding to explore and enhance the technology for revenue generation and for the benefit of Nigerians.
The Managing Director of the Company, Mallam Tukur Lawal Funtua said the company was working assiduously to utilize space technology to generate employment opportunities for Nigerians through its operations and services.
Malam Tukur said the retreat became necessary to ensure the management of the company is acclimatized to the dynamism of the satellite services industry.
NIGCOMSAT 1R was launched in 2011 to provide efficient medium for transmitting heavy streaming video and audio signals needed for digital services such as telemedicine, transmission of bio signals to base stations.
NIGCOMSAT 1 was launched in 2003 to give early warning signals of environmental disasters, early detection of desertification, demographic planning and areas prone to certain hazardous occurrences.
Reporting by Olayemi Daniyan; Editing by Annabel Nwachukwu