" ITREALMS: Nigeria set to launch NigcomSAT-1R in December

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Nigeria set to launch NigcomSAT-1R in December

VP, China GWIC, Mr. He Xing, MD NIGCOMSAT, Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai, 
DG, NBC, Mr. Yomi Bolarinwa, Chief of Defence, Communication,
AVM Osmond Amu at the event.

The managing director and chief executive officer, Nigerian Communication Satellite (NigComSAT) Limited, Mr. Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai has said that all is set for the launch for the replacement of Nigeria’s communication satellite, NigComSAT-1R, on December 19, 2011, just as he assures on availability of bandwidth.

Mr. Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai gave this insight in Lagos at the stakeholders’ conference on NigComSAT-1R by his firm, saying that it’s an improvement on NigComSAT-1.

According to him, the launch of NigComSat-1R is symbolic on different levels.

For his team at NIGCOMSAT Ltd, it is the end-result of many years of hard work and sacrifice, and another step towards the fulfillment of the company’s vision to be the leading satellite operator on the continent of Africa.

And for the Federal Government of Nigeria, he said, the launch of NigComSAT is a prerequisite for a knowledge-based economy.

To the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry, he said, NigComSat-1R will serve as a critical infrastructure for development.

He expressed the hope that with the cooperation of the government and the ICT industry, the average Nigerian will reap the benefits of the launch of NigComSat-1R.

Based on the foregoing, he said that they brought this conference to Lagos, the Center of Excellence, which they consider to be the hub of ICT enterprise, and home to the drivers of this critical sector.

Though he decried the deorbiting of NigComSat-1, describing it as disappointing, Mr. Ahmed-Rufai noted that it paved the way for growth and improvement.

“The NigComSat-1R is an improvement on the de-orbited NigComSat-1,” he declared.

He said that the ECOWAS 1 now carries PEAK EIRP: 55dBW, ECOWAS II coverage of East Africa is now PEAK EIRP: 52dBW, while the coverage of West and Central Africa is PEAK EIRP: 46dBW.

The spot beam covering Europe, Nigeria and South Africa, he said, is also PEAK EIRP: 58dBW, and the global coverage for Space Based Augmentation System meant for Navigation has also change to (L1) =33.5dBW and PEAK EIRP (L5)=31.5dBW respectively.

These improved features, he said, would enable NigComSAT-1R meet its core mandate in covering the entire Africa continent, and parts of Europe and Asia with clear, clean and high-resolution signals on our footprints.

Further, he said, the NigComSat-1R satellite will bring the expected availability of bandwidth, not just to Nigeria, but the entire continent.

“Our footprints shall also cover parts of Europe and Asia. We shall ensure that bandwidth is available for customers at competitive prices,” he assured.

Additionally, he expressed the home that those in broadcast industry will take advantage of this glowing opportunity to meet the challenges of global migration in the industry.

He explained that the three-day conference which ends today is intended to provide an opportunity for NigComSAT to showcase the features of the satellite and the services and applications that will be derived from it.

“We have knowledgeable speakers who will dwell on topical issues such as broadcasting, direct-to-home (DTH), satellite applications, national security and much more,” he asserted.

He commended the engineers and marketers at NIGCOMSAT Ltd for active participation and endurance for seeing NigComSAT-1R to this stage.

Remmy Nweke
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

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