Tag Archives: Nigerian Communications Satellite

NigComSat faces financial inquiry

Nigeria’s House of Representatives has launched an investigation into the management of Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigComSat) over seven years of financial inconsistencies.

The chairman of the house committee on finance, James Falake, cast doubt over NigComSat’s accounts for the years between 2012 and 2019.

He made the claim during an investigative hearing into the non-remittance of revenue by ministries, departments and agencies of the federal government to the federation account.

Falake attacked the professional competence of NigComSat’s accountants and its general manager of finance, Adamu Idris, who failed to respond to the hearing’s questions.

James Falake

“Things cannot continue like this – you are not competent. We have to rescue this agency from you. In fact, if I have my way, I will recommend you are sacked,” Falake said.

“We cannot continue with this exercise. The management will have to leave. Go and perfect your records and present them for consideration, because the one brought now cannot stand the test of time. We will have to start from the 2012 financial year.”

Abuja-based NigComSat is a 14-year-old company working under the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology. It operates the Chinese-built Nigerian telecoms satellite NigComSat-1R.

Falake ordered a ‘status enquiry’ into the agency to discover its financial position.

Falake said: “We are continuing with our investigations on revenue monitoring to ensure what happened in the past doesn’t continue. And the essence is to make sure that all revenues meant for the consolidated revenue accounts are remitted as and when due and everything outstanding accounted for.

“Although, we don’t have the power to hire and fire, it’s within our purview to recommend sanctions, which could include the sacking of an officer.”

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NigComSat expands broadband service

Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigComSat) has completed a deal with Newtec, an equipment maker for satellite communications, to expand its broadband offerings in Nigeria.

Abimbola Alale

The government-owned satellite operator will be able to expand its enterprise, government and consumer Ka-band broadband services in Nigeria by deploying another hub and satellite modems.

Newtec’s business partner, Content Oasis, will be the system integrator responsible for maintaining the modems installed for the NIGCOMSAT and Newtec Dialog platform.

Abimbola Alale, MD and CEO of NigComSat, said: “The ability to run multiple services over Newtec Dialog was a key advantage for us when selecting our technology partner for this expansion as it means we can install a variety of modems and select the best one depending on the application being addressed, and all via a single platform.

“Along with the optimal efficiency achieved via Newtec’s in-built technologies, this will allow us to quickly and cost-effectively expand our portfolio to meet the rising demand we are currently seeing across Nigeria.”

This deal was made possible as a result of NigComSat’s continued success with the Newtec Dialog VSAT platform.

The CEO of Newtec, Thomas Van Den Driessche, said: “As NigComSat looks to expand its offering, Newtec Dialog offers a perfect fit for this, allowing NigComSat to seamlessly move into new markets.

“We are pleased to be able to expand our long-term partnership with NigComSat at what promises to be an exciting time for the company and have every confidence that our technology will meet the needs of both the company and its customers.”

“As a multiservice VSAT platform, Newtec Dialog enables operators to build and adapt satellite networking infrastructures according to specific needs. With Newtec’s modems, a choice of three return technologies is provided, including MF-TDMA, SCPC and Newtec’s unique, dynamic Mx DMA, which combines the best qualities of both to provide dynamic bandwidth allocation with the highest level of efficiency,” Newtec said.

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Nigeria, Turkey satellite alliance on the cards

Satellite operator Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigComSat) is in discussions over partnering with Turkish satellite firm Turksat.

Samson Osagie

NigComSat said the two companies were mulling a collaboration and exploring the possibilities of expanding the reach of their platforms by exchanging content.

Just days after the Satellite 2018 conference held in Washington D.C. in the US, Samson Osagie, executive director of marketing at NigComSat, said his company was exploring technical and commercial agreements with Turksat to ensure the expansion of its satellite footprint and to allow customers to leverage bandwidths on the satellite infrastructure of both companies.

“We are already considering the strength of our joint marketing, our mutual business development within the framework of the commercial and technical agreements and the required timeframe to put all these into action,” said Osagie.

“Once we agree on a working and agreeable business model, including building a gateway on the NigComSat platform and then training the NigComSat technical team in Ankara on the technical requirements of the Turksat system, we can begin to deliver the expectations of our agreement.”

NigComSat representatives were among the 14,500-plus satellite communication execs from 150 countries that attended the recently concluded Satellite 2018 conference.

In December, the company partnered with China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) to produce high-quality satellite content for distribution, broadcasting multiple TV channels across the country via its satellite services.

Established in 1990, Turksat is the sole satellite operator in Turkey and one of the world’s leading satellite companies.

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NTA to switch to NigComSat1R

The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) has announced plans to move its channels and services from foreign-owned satellites to state-owned NigComSat1R.

The move comes after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the NTA and Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigComSat). The lease agreement for the C-band transponder of the eight-year-old NigComSat1R is to facilitate the spread of local content to the Nigerian population.

Yakubu Mohammed, director general of the NTA, said: ‘This collaboration between NTA and NigComSat is further in fulfilment of the cardinal policy of this administration.

“It will to a very great extent help this country reduce capital flight. We transmit from various parts of the country and we transmit too to other parts of the world. For us to do that, we need the services of a satellite provider.”

The new collaboration will help reduce the cost of operations at the NTA.

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NIGCOMSAT launches DTH

Government-owned satellite operator Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) has launched its first direct-to-home (DTH) television services.

Partnering with China Great Wall Industry Corp (CGWIC) to produce high-quality satellite TV for distribution, NIGCOMSAT will broadcast multiple TV channels across the country via its satellite services.

NIGCOMSAT will also air programmes with premium content from its first customer, Ovy Network, a Botswana-based start-up DTH operator.

The Lagos-based satellite operator was unable to meet the deadline for digital switchover (DSO), but according to the agency, after six months of intensive testing, optimisation and trial services of the satellite, the NIGCOMSAT DTH system is capable of providing commercial broadcasting services to Nigeria and all countries within its satellite footprint.

This extends from Senegal in the West to Namibia in the South. NIGCOMSAT is also working on providing a solution for DSO using its NigComSat-1R satellite.

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