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Nigeria is turning to Israeli and French satellite manufacturers for its next-generation communications infrastructure, months after a dispute with a China aerospace contractor exposed the country’s dependence on China for critical satellite operations.
The Federal Government has approved the acquisition and deployment of NigComSat-2A and NigComSat-2B, with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and France’s Thales Alenia Space set to provide the new satellites.
The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and NIGCOMSAT are now engaging the two manufacturers, with contract finalisation and technical planning expected before manufacturing and launch.
The development comes about five months after China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) warned that it could suspend services supporting Nigeria’s existing NigComSat-1R over an outstanding $11.44 million debt.
The move does not amount to a cancellation of Nigeria’s Chinese satellite partnership. NIGCOMSAT continues to operate the Chinese-built NigComSat-1R, while its new Israeli-French programme represents a shift in suppliers for the country’s next-generation satellite infrastructure.
In March, CGWIC issued NIGCOMSAT a 30-day ultimatum over $11,442,335.89 it said was owed for telemetry, tracking and command services provided from its ground-control facility in Kashi, China.
The Chinese company warned that failure to settle the debt could lead to the deactivation of active transponders on NigComSat-1R, potentially affecting broadcasting, internet and defence communications.
The dispute highlighted Nigeria’s reliance on Chinese technology. NigComSat-1R was built by CGWIC and launched from China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in 2011, replacing NigComSat-1, which was also built and launched by China in…
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Read Full Article by Bala Augie at moneycentral.com.ng
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