THE Federal Government has approved the acquisition and deployment of two new communications satellites to expand internet access and improve connectivity in underserved and hard-to-reach communities across Nigeria.

The satellites, NIGCOMSAT-2A and NIGCOMSAT-2B, are expected to strengthen the country’s satellite capacity and complement existing terrestrial infrastructure, particularly in locations where fibre-optic networks and telecommunications towers are difficult or costly to deploy.

The approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) moves the project into its next stage of implementation, with the Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) expected to lead the process under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.

The Acting Head, Corporate Affairs Division, NIGCOMSAT, Stephen Kwande, disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday, saying the approval would enable the agency to proceed with formal engagement with technology partners, contract finalisation and technical planning for the manufacture, launch and deployment of the satellites.

The development comes shortly after the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, announced plans by the Federal Government to deploy about 3,700 telecommunications towers and use satellite technology to extend services to more than 20 million Nigerians living in communities without telecommunications access.

Tijani, who spoke in Abuja on Thursday at the National Innovation Hub Standards Framework Workshop, said satellite technology would be particularly important in reaching locations where conventional infrastructure could not be deployed.

“There are some places where we can’t get to at all, so we can’t put towers there. But with satellites, you can reach those locations as well,” he said.

The minister said the initiative was part of the government’s broader strategy to achieve ubiquitous digital infrastructure and ensure that communities across the country were not excluded from the digital economy.

He said the government was simultaneously investing in fibre-optic infrastructure, telecommunications towers and satellite connectivity to tackle Nigeria’s persistent coverage gaps.

Under Project BRIDGE, the government is also working towards deploying about 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic network across the country, which Tijani said would provide a major foundation for the digital economy.

The new NIGCOMSAT satellites are expected to complement these terrestrial investments by providing wider coverage in locations where conventional broadband infrastructure is unavailable or impractical.

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

Their deployment is also expected to improve access to digital services in education, healthcare, agriculture and financial services, while strengthening communications resilience nationwide.

The satellites are expected to provide additional capacity for critical national communications, including security and defence, and reduce excessive dependence on external satellite infrastructure.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NIGCOMSAT, Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, described the FEC approval as a significant milestone for the agency and the country.

“This is a significant milestone for NIGCOMSAT and for Nigeria, and we commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the leadership and support that have enabled us to reach this stage,” she said.

Egerton-Idehen said the project would strengthen Nigeria’s national satellite capacity and expand connectivity, adding that NIGCOMSAT’s priority would be to translate the investment into measurable benefits for Nigerians.

Beyond internet access, NIGCOMSAT said the satellite project would create opportunities across the country’s satellite and digital technology value chain, including telecommunications, broadcasting, ground infrastructure, systems integration, technical support and satellite-enabled services.

It is also expected to support indigenous expertise through knowledge transfer, professional development and the growth of specialised skills in satellite engineering, network operations, cybersecurity and other emerging space technologies.

The satellites will be delivered by Thales Alenia Space of France and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), with NIGCOMSAT coordinating implementation in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and other stakeholders.

With FEC approval secured, the project will now move into the implementation phase, including engagement with the technology partners, contract finalisation and technical preparations ahead of manufacturing, launch and eventual deployment.

The government said the investment was in line with the digital infrastructure objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The combination of new satellites, expanded fibre infrastructure and thousands of additional telecommunications towers is expected to give the government multiple layers through which connectivity can be extended to communities that have remained underserved by conventional networks.

NIGCOMSAT said the new satellites would ultimately help expand the utilisation of Nigeria’s national satellite assets while supporting the development of a stronger and more commercially viable domestic satellite and space-sector ecosystem.