FG Approves Two New Satellites to Expand Internet Access Across Nigeria
The Federal Government has approved the acquisition and deployment of two new communications satellites as part of efforts to expand internet access and improve digital connectivity in underserved and hard-to-reach communities across Nigeria.
The satellites, designated NIGCOMSAT-2A and NIGCOMSAT-2B, are expected to strengthen Nigeria’s satellite communications capacity and complement existing terrestrial infrastructure, particularly in areas where fibre-optic networks and telecommunications towers are difficult, expensive or impractical to deploy.
The approval was granted by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), moving the project into its next phase of implementation. The Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) is expected to lead the process under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
The Acting Head of the Corporate Affairs Division of NIGCOMSAT, Stephen Kwande, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Kwande said the approval would enable the agency to begin formal engagements with relevant technology partners while advancing contract finalisation and technical planning for the manufacture, launch and eventual deployment of the satellites.
The development comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to address Nigeria’s persistent telecommunications and broadband coverage gaps.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, recently disclosed plans to deploy approximately 3,700 telecommunications towers in communities that currently have little or no access to mobile network services.
The minister said the initiative would help extend connectivity to more than 20 million Nigerians living in communities without adequate telecommunications coverage.
He also stressed that satellite technology would play a crucial role in reaching locations where conventional infrastructure could not easily be established.
“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,” Tijani said.
According to the minister, the Federal Government’s connectivity strategy is based on deploying multiple forms of digital infrastructure rather than relying on a single technology.
The approach includes the expansion of fibre-optic networks, the deployment of telecommunications towers and the use of satellite technology to reach communities that remain geographically isolated.
The government is also implementing Project BRIDGE, which is designed to facilitate the deployment of about 90,000 kilometres of additional fibre-optic infrastructure across Nigeria. The project is expected to significantly expand the country’s broadband backbone and support the growth of the digital economy.
The proposed NIGCOMSAT satellites are expected to complement these terrestrial investments by providing connectivity to locations where laying fibre or constructing telecommunications towers may be challenging.
NIGCOMSAT said the satellites would have applications beyond ordinary internet access, including high-capacity broadband services, broadcasting, enterprise connectivity, government communications and other emerging digital services.
The expansion of satellite infrastructure is also expected to support greater digital inclusion, particularly in rural and geographically isolated communities where residents and businesses have historically faced limited access to reliable communications services.
The Federal Government’s latest move reflects its broader objective of using digital infrastructure to stimulate economic activity, improve access to public services and ensure that underserved communities are not left behind as Nigeria’s digital economy expands.
If successfully implemented, NIGCOMSAT-2A and NIGCOMSAT-2B could provide an additional layer of connectivity to complement the country’s expanding fibre and mobile network infrastructure.
