FG Engages Israeli, French Manufacturers to Produce Two Next-Gen Satellites

The Federal Government has commenced engagements with Israeli and French manufacturers for the production of two next-generation communication satellites for Nigeria.

The satellites, NigComSat-2A and NigComSat-2B, will be produced by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Thales Alenia Space of France, respectively, according to the Nigeria Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited.

The development follows approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the acquisition and deployment of the satellites.

NIGCOMSAT said the project had now entered its next phase, which includes formal engagement with the technology partners, contract finalisation and technical planning ahead of manufacturing, launch and deployment.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NIGCOMSAT, Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, described the approval as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s satellite and digital economy.

She said the project would strengthen the country’s satellite capacity, expand connectivity and support critical communication services.

“Our priority is to translate this investment into measurable value for Nigerians and position NIGCOMSAT for stronger impact within the global satellite and digital economy,” Egerton-Idehen said.

NIGCOMSAT’s Acting Head of Corporate Affairs, Stephen Kwande, said the satellites would be launched in phases, with the first expected by the end of 2028 and the second in 2029 or 2030.

He said the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and NIGCOMSAT were jointly engaging the manufacturers as the process progresses.

According to NIGCOMSAT, the additional satellite capacity will support high-capacity broadband, broadcasting, enterprise connectivity, government services and emerging digital applications.

The satellites are also expected to complement terrestrial broadband networks by extending connectivity to areas where conventional infrastructure is difficult or expensive to deploy.

The company said the project would support digital services in education, healthcare, agriculture, financial services, broadcasting and government.

It added that the satellites would strengthen secure and resilient communications for critical national requirements, including national security and defence, while reducing Nigeria’s dependence on foreign satellite infrastructure.

The project is also expected to create opportunities in telecommunications, broadcasting, ground infrastructure, systems integration, technical support and satellite-enabled services.

NIGCOMSAT said the initiative would promote indigenous expertise through knowledge transfer and professional development in satellite engineering, network operations and cybersecurity.