Eutelsat & NIGCOMSAT Partner for Satellite Services in Nigeria

The Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) has collaborated with Eutelsat, a global satellite communications pioneer, to establish Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services throughout Nigeria. The cooperation was revealed in a statement issued on Wednesday by NIGCOMSAT’s Corporate Affairs office.

This was revealed by Aisha Bantam, Head of Corporate Affairs at NIGCOMSAT, in a statement made in Abuja on Wednesday.

A Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite is one that orbits close to Earth, usually at altitudes ranging from 500 to 2,000 kilometres. This proximity enables faster data transmission with little latency, making it perfect for high-speed internet and real-time applications. LEO spacecraft operate substantially closer to the Earth than traditional geostationary satellites, which orbit at 35,786 kilometres above it.

The collaboration intends to improve connectivity for government, businesses, and rural communities by offering high-speed, low-latency communication solutions and establishing NIGCOMSAT as Nigeria’s top satellite service provider through the use of OneWeb’s advanced LEO satellite network. The effort aims to improve nationwide distant communications, mobile connection, and offshore operations.

Mrs. Jane Egerton-Idehen, the Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT, described it as a significant step in closing Nigeria’s digital divide.

“This collaboration is a significant milestone for NIGCOMSAT, allowing us to bridge Nigeria’s digital divide using OneWeb’s sophisticated LEO satellite technology. She stated that “together, we will deliver scalable and reliable connectivity solutions to drive growth across government services, businesses, and communities nationwide.”

In developing satellite technology, Egerton-Idehen emphasized that the collaboration reflects Nigeria and France’s strong relations in the advancement of satellite and space technologies. She stressed the partnership’s potential to promote innovation and advance the country’s digital transformation.

The collaboration also highlights Nigeria and France’s strong links in the advancement of satellite and space technology. “By combining resources, Eutelsat and NIGCOMSAT aim to foster innovation, accelerate digital transformation, and expand connectivity opportunities within Nigeria and beyond.” Eutelsat and NIGCOMSAT also intend to combine their resources to stimulate innovation, accelerate digital transformation, and enhance connection prospects in Nigeria and beyond.

She reaffirmed NIGCOMSAT’s commitment to providing high-quality satellite services, stating:

“NIGCOMSAT is Nigeria’s largest satellite communications provider, committed to providing high-quality satellite services that empower companies and communities. Its flagship NigComSat-1R satellite serves essential areas such as communication, education, health, and security,” she explained.

With respect to Eutelsat, Eutelsat is a French satellite operator which is based in Paris, France. It is a worldwide satellite communications powerhouse that will join with OneWeb in 2023 to form the first fully integrated GEO-LEO satellite operator.

The corporation has a fleet of 35 geostationary satellites and a network of more than 600 LEO spacecraft. The company’s services include video broadcasting, mobile and fixed connectivity, and government activities. It broadcasts over 6,500 TV channels worldwide. Eutelsat is continuing to grow its footprint in Africa by offering satellite communication solutions across the continent and cooperating with a variety of African stakeholders.

Nigeria is making tremendous progress in improving its digital infrastructure by providing high-speed, low-latency internet services, particularly in distant and underserved areas.

In January 2025, the US and Nigerian governments inked a $2,095,000 grant to investigate the feasibility of building 90,000 kilometres of new fibre-optic backbone infrastructure throughout Nigeria.

This effort is part of Nigeria’s National internet Plan 2020-2025, which aims to increase internet penetration from 42.27% to 70%, guaranteeing that 90% of the population enjoys affordable and reliable broadband.

NIGCOMSAT revealed intentions to replace its old satellite, NIGCOMSAT-1R, which will reach the end of its 15-year life in 2026, and invited global investors to participate in the project to launch two new satellites, NIGCOMSAT-2 and NIGCOMSAT-3, to improve satellite communications.

Lagos State is also investing heavily on digital infrastructure. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced plans to expand the state’s fibre-optic network by 1,200 kilometres in 2025, supplementing the current 2,500 kilometres.

This collaboration is expected to considerably improve Nigeria’s digital infrastructure by providing dependable and high-speed internet connectivity to underserved and distant locations, thereby boosting the country’s ongoing digital transformation efforts.