Nigcomsat-1R Satellite To Be Launched In December

NigComSat -1R is set for launch on December 19, 2011. This is a replacement satellite to NigComSat-1, which was lost in orbit on November 10, 2008.

The Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat), Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai gave the assurance in Lagos on Monday at a stakeholders’ conference and exhibition that the replacement satellite has been fully integrated and every necessary performance test has been carried out on the satellite.”

The role of NigComSat-1R, according to Rufai, is to foster the growth of broadcasting industry as it will allow broadcasting concentrate on the provision of quality content in order to realise maximum revenue. He added that the satellite would also act as open doors to attract foreign direct investments into the country.

He said the satellite had already been moved to its launch site in central China, from where it would be launched on December 19.

He explained that satellite television customers in the country and other parts of Africa, are currently getting programming contents through Direct To Home (DTH) providers, but explained that the communications satellite, when launched, would support players in the Nigerian broadcast industry to aggregate hundreds of channels and deliver same directly to homes across the country.

The replacement satellite, according to Rufai, is a Hybrid Satellite, since it will function beyond communications, providing navigational services for the aviation and maritime industries as well.

Vice President of China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), builders of NigComSat-1R, Mr. He Xing, who flew from China to attend the stakeholders’ conference and exhibition on NigComSat-1R, confirmed the readiness of NigComSat-1R for the December 19 launch.

Xing, who spoke in Chinese language and was interpreted in English language, said the replacement satellite would be launched on the DH-4 platform of CGWIC.

He explained that the ground control of the satellite would be carried out in Nigeria by Nigerian engineers that have undergone intensive training in China in recent times.

“We have provided training for over 60 engineers sent by the management of NigComSat, and they are capable of controlling the satellite from the ground station in Nigeria, and providing services to Nigerians and Africans. With over 50 years of the practice of space technology, and with the successful launch of several satellites from China by CGWIC, we are optimistic that we are going to have a successful launch of NigComSat-1R on December 19,” Xing said.

Giving a technical demonstration of NigComSat-1R, General Manager, Technical for NigComsat, Abdul Raheem Adajah, said it took NigComSat 29 months to conclude the launch preparation of NigComSat-1R, and that it comes with a minimum life-spam of 15 years and maximum life-spam of 15 years plus.

The NigComSat-1R has payloads of 7 antennae and 28 transponders, to address redundancy, and it operates under four different bands: C, Ku, KA and the L bands.

Director General of Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Yomi Bolarenwa,  who delivered a paper on the ‘Future Trends in Broadcast Technology’, highlighted the importance of communications satellite to businesses in Nigeria, and commended NigComSat for its commitment to launch NigComSat-1R, despite the loss of NigComSat 1 in 2008.