With the tagline “African Rooted, Globally Positioned”, NIGCOMSAT LTD. Is well positioned to be one of the leading satellite and service operators in Africa. Their satellite, NigComSat-1, was launched on May 13th of 2007, to provide communications throughout the Pan-African region. The comsat is able to provide full link availability, regardless of the weather conditions, even during rainfall, which can be quite intense. Plus, the dense African vegetation is of less concern for connectivity thanks to high power Ku-band strength that negates attenuation and rain fade.
This hybrid satellite was manufactured using radiation-hardened technology and; is able to reprogram operations using onboard software; is fault tolerant; and is equipped with redundant, high-powered amplifiers (an average EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power) of 43dB and a peak of 53dB).
With better look angles and shorter latency, due to its footprints and beams located directly over the African continent, NigComSat-1 is able to provide shorter latency and better look angles. Customers are able to obtain services with small equipment requirements, resulting in lower cost, with small dishes and low power BUCs and LNBs.
The Nigerian Federal Government invested approximately $450 million in the project, which covered the satellite’s cost, ground station, engineer’s training and other related expenses. Elrased Electronic Trading and Investment Limited of Sudan invested an additional $250 million in this satcom project, with $200 million factored for the firm’s equity participation and $50 million for the purchase of transponders.
In December of 2005, the contract for the satellite was signed with China Great Wall Industries (CGWIC) for the manufacture and launch of NigComSat-1. Telesat Canada provided management and technical services.
The satellite is based on a DFH-4 platform and is 3-axis stabilized. There are 14 Ku-, 4 C-, 8 Ka- and 2 L-band transponders and the satellite deploys seven antennas. The NigComSat-1 was delivered into orbit via a Long March 3B launch vehicle on May 14th, 2007.
NIGCOMSAT offers full teleport support services as well as virtual network operators (VNO), the ability to purchase bulk bandwidth, full WiFi and WiMAX broadband Internet distribution and a community tele-center (CTC) option.
NIGCOMSAT-1 Mission Requirements
- Orbit Location — 42.5°E
- Launch Vehicle — LM-3B
- Launch Mass — 5150 kg
- Service Life — >15 years
- Reliability — >0.70 at end-of-life
NIGCOMSAT is offering a variety of business opportunities, such as distribution partnerships, transponder leasing with affordable pricing, collaboration on research, and more.
Approximately 150,000 engineers, techs, and telecom service provider jobs are expected as a result of this satellite. For more information, head over to the NIGCOMSAT at www.nigcomsat.com.