The Nigerian Communications Satellite-1Replacement (NigComSat-1R) would be launched on Dec. 19, according to a top official with the Nigerian Communications Satellite. The company's Managing Director Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai made this known in Lagos on Monday at the Stakeholders' Conference and Exhibition on NigComSat-1R, titled "Pre-launch Marketing and Sensitization on NigComSat-1R".

He said the new satellite would be sent into the orbit from China.

The managing director told his audience that 18 months after the launch of NigComSat-1 on May 13, 2007, the satellite was de- orbited on Nov. 10, 2008.

"We spent five months to analyze what happened to NigComSat-1 before commencing on the manufacturing of NigComSat-1R," he said.

He said the new device was a super hybrid geostationary satellite for communications and would also serve in telemedicine, e-learning and aircraft.

"The launch of NigComSat-1R is symbolic on different levels. For us at NigComSat Ltd., it is the end result of many years of hard work and sacrifice," he added.

"It is another step toward the fulfilment of our vision to be the leading satellite operator in Africa," he said.

"For the Federal Government of Nigeria, it is a prerequisite for a knowledge based economy, and to the ICT industry, NigComSat- 1R will serve as a critical infrastructure," the official told his audience.

Ahmed-Rufia called for the cooperation of the government and the ICT industry to enable the average Nigerian to reap the benefits of the launch.

According to him, while the de-orbiting of NigComSat-1 was disappointing, it paved the way for growth and improvement.

He called on the broadcast industry to take advantage of the opportunity to meet what he called the challenges of global migration in the industry.

NigComSat-1R has a life span of 15 years. Earlier, Minister of Communications Technology Omobola Johnson said the new satellite would add value and improve the fast growing ICT landscape in Nigeria, especially in the area of broadband Internet connectivity.

"Recently, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) rose up from its yearly meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, with a marching order to its member countries to make broadband connectivity available in at least 40 percent of households by 2012," she added.

"Nigeria is as a member of ITU will abide by ITU decision by creating an enabling environment for broadband Internet connectivity through adequate investment by both the government and the private sector," Johnson said.

She added that NigComSat-1R would domesticate broadband services by curtailing capital flight of about 500 million U.S. dollars yearly.

Source: Xinhua News Agency