Nigeria Signs Deal With Thales Alenia Space To Build New NigComSat-2A Satellite
Nigeria has signed a contract with Thales Alenia Space for the development of a new telecommunications satellite, NigComSat-2A, as the country moves to strengthen its satellite communications capacity and expand access to digital services across Africa.
The agreement was signed between the government-owned Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) and Thales Alenia Space, a Franco-Italian aerospace company jointly owned by Thales and Leonardo. The contract covers the development of NigComSat-2A, which will operate from geostationary orbit.
According to the details of the agreement, the new satellite is designed to provide reliable and secure communications services, including high-quality television broadcasting, broadband internet access and digital applications such as voice calls and streaming.
NIGCOMSAT said the project is expected to improve connectivity in underserved and remote communities where terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure remains limited or difficult to deploy. The satellite will also support connectivity needs across households, businesses, public institutions and industries.
The development of NigComSat-2A comes as demand for reliable broadband and digital services continues to increase across Africa. By providing satellite-based connectivity, the project is expected to complement existing terrestrial networks and extend communications services to areas that are difficult to reach through conventional infrastructure.
The satellite will have a launch mass of nearly four tonnes and is expected to provide coverage stretching from West and Central Africa to Southern Africa. It will be built using Thales Alenia Space’s Spacebus B2 platform and is designed to have an operational life of more than 15 years once in orbit.
NIGCOMSAT Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nkechi Jane Egerton-Idehen, described the signing as an important step in Nigeria’s digital transformation efforts. She said the satellite would strengthen Nigeria’s satellite communications capacity while expanding access to broadband and digital services, particularly for communities that remain underserved.
The project is also expected to contribute to broader digital inclusion efforts by improving access to information and communication services. NIGCOMSAT said stronger satellite infrastructure could support economic opportunities, knowledge sharing and the expansion of digital services across the continent.
Thales Alenia Space President and Chief Executive Officer, Hervé Derrey, said the company appreciated NIGCOMSAT’s confidence in its technology. He said NigComSat-2A would help the Nigerian satellite operator provide reliable services capable of responding to growing demand for connectivity and digital content.
The agreement follows Nigeria’s broader plans to strengthen its satellite infrastructure. Recent reporting indicates that the Nigerian government has also approved plans involving a second satellite, NigComSat-2B, with the new satellites intended to strengthen and eventually succeed the existing NigComSat-1R as it approaches the end of its designed operational life.
NigComSat-1R was launched in December 2011 and remains part of Nigeria’s satellite communications infrastructure. NIGCOMSAT, established in 2006 under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, operates Nigeria’s government-owned communications satellites and provides services including satellite broadband, broadcasting and telecommunications capacity.
Street News Reporters reports that the NigComSat-2A project is expected to play a role in expanding Nigeria’s digital connectivity and strengthening the country’s position in Africa’s growing satellite communications sector. With its planned coverage across several parts of the continent and an expected operational lifespan exceeding 15 years, the satellite is being developed to support the increasing demand for broadband and other digital communication services.
