House of Reps. Makes Case for NigComSat 2, 3

Dr. Ibrahim Gusau, chairman, House Committee on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), has said that his committee will look into the delay in the award of contracts for NigComSat 2 & 3, two proactive back-up satellites systems that will help Nigeria harvest broadband.

Gusau  who stated this  when the Committee paid a visit to the ground control station of the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigComSat) Ltd in Abuja, said his committee was in the agency to monitor budgetary release to NigComSat as part of the committee’s oversight function.

NigComSat Ltd is the manager of NigComSat-1R, a hybrid geostationary satellite, a replacement satellite for NigComSat-1 Satellite.

The satellite was built on a DFH-4 platform and was successfully launched on a Long March 3B/E vehicle into the geo-transfer orbit (GTO) on December 19, 2011, from Xichang satellite launch centre in China.

NigComSat-1R is being monitored and controlled from the Abuja Ground Station from where the data from the satellite are currently being received real-time.  China also has Ground Station.

But Gusau underscoring the importance of critical ICT backbone infrastructure to drive the National ICT revolution said the need for the two back-up satellites.

He further explained that  NigComSat Ltd can fully win the confidence of its former customers and others if there is visible progress on the two back-ups.

Engr. Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai, managing director NigComSat Ltd in his response explained that in view of the competitive business models in the industry today, the need for back-ups cannot be over emphasized.