The Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Ltd. has signed cooperative agreement with Thales Alenia Space in Toulouse, France, to partner on testing of NigComSat-1R payload to safeguard the nation’s maritime security.
Adamu Idris, the Head of Public Affairs Department NIGCOMSAT stated in Abuja that that the agreement was aimed at demonstrating the capability of NigComSat-1R payload for Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS).
He noted that “Thales Alenia Space Company is the foremost satellite manufacturing company with specialisation in satellite payloads and satellite equipment with over 50 per cent of the world market share in satellite payloads manufacturing.”
NIGCOMSAT Ltd is a satellite communication service provider wholly owned by Federal Government of Nigeria, providing secure communication services in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.
He said that the signing of the agreement and cooperative agreement between NIGCOMSAT Ltd and Thales Alenia Space took place at the Thales Alenia Space Head office in Toulouse, France.
He added that “this came on the heels of negotiations and final agreement between the two parties.”
According to him, the successful testing of NigComSat-1R payload on Thales Alenia facility is to boost business opportunities.
He noted that the agreement was to address navigation and maritime safety in Africa, in collaboration with other stakeholders in Africa.
He explained that “under the agreement, NIGCOMSAT would acquire critical SBAS equipment worth about 400,000 (Four Hundred Thousand Euros) free from Thales, including utilisation of NIGCOMSAT services and knowledge transfer.
Idris said that the Executive Director, Engineering Services, Mr Kazeem Raji, led the NIGCOMSAT delegation.
Raji added that the agreement was a platform that would kick-start collaboration between NIGCOMSAT and Thales Alenia Space toward
establishing the capacity of NIGCOMSAT Navigation Payload.
The executive director added that the agreement toward the utilisation of the navigation payload of NigComSat-1R would improve Navigation and Maritime safety across Africa and beyond.
He noted that “by this development, Nigeria would eventually be established as centre for navigation and maritime safety in Africa.”
Bennoit Brody, the Vice President of Satellite Navigation Business Unit of Thales Alenia Space, said that the agreement would open a flood gate to demonstrate the capacity of NigComSat-1R navigation payload and that of Thales Alenia Space.
Brody said that the agreement would finally create potential business opportunities in navigation safety in Africa.
Idris said that NIGCOMSAT delegation while in Toulouse, visited the Assembly Integration and Testing (AIT) Complex of Thales Alenia Space.
The capacity of Thales Alenia Space in satellite manufacturing and several technological advances in communication satellite models were presented for other possible areas of cooperation