Nigeria has taken a major step towards strengthening its satellite communications capacity, with Thales Alenia Space signing a contract on 14 September to build NigComSat-2A, a geostationary telecommunications satellite for state-owned operator NIGCOMSAT.
The signing finalises a deal first announced in August, when Nigeria's Federal Executive Council approved the acquisition of NigComSat-2A and a second satellite, NigComSat-2B, with NIGCOMSAT naming Thales Alenia Space as manufacturers of the two satellites.
According to Thales, NigComSat-2A will boost Africa's digital connectivity, delivering reliable and secure communication services, including high-quality television broadcasting, stable internet access in remote areas, and applications such as voice calls and streaming.
The satellite will be built on Thales's Spacebus B2 platform, have a launch mass of nearly four tonnes, and an expected in-orbit service life exceeding 15 years. It will cover the region extending from West and Central Africa to Southern Africa.
NigComSat-2A and NigComSat-2B are intended to eventually replace NigComSat-1R, launched in 2011, as that satellite approaches the end of its own 15-year design life.
ITWeb Africa reported in April that NIGCOMSAT's satellite revenue had grown from $650 million in 2023 to more than $2 billion by the end of 2025, as the operator expanded beyond broadcasting into broadband and enterprise services across African markets.
NIGCOMSAT is targeting a launch window between 2027 and 2028 for the new satellites.
"The signing of this contract represents a bold step in Nigeria's journey toward digital transformation," said Nkechi Jane Egerton-Idehen, managing director and CEO of NIGCOMSAT.
Hervé Derrey, president and CEO of Thales Alenia Space, said:"NigComSat-2A will enable NIGCOMSAT to strengthen its competitive position by delivering reliable, high-quality services that meet the growing demand for connectivity and digital content worldwide. This announcement also underscores the success of our Spacebus B2 product line, renowned for its reliability, robustness and time-to-market efficiency."
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