In its efforts to improve the efficiency of key agencies critical to making the digitization of the nation’s economy attainable, the Federal Government has created two new companies from the Nigerian Communications Satellite {NIGCOMSAT).
The two new entities are the Satellite Infrastructure Company (SIC) and the Satellite Broadband and Broadcasting Company (SBBC).
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, disclosed this at the just ended NIGCOMSAT Stakeholders’ Forum with the theme ‘NIGCOMSAT Ltd: The Present and the Future.’
Pantami explained that while the new Satellite Infrastructure Company would provide satellite upstream services such as transponder leasing, in-orbit testing (IOT), and carrier spectrum management (CSM), the SBBC would provide satellite downstream services such; as broadband internet services and broadcasting services, amongst others.
In her opening address at the forum, NIGCOMSAT’s managing director, Abimbola Alale, said that agency was repositioning itself for potential opportunities and risks, hence ‘the creation of operational structures, to facilitate its business aspirations.
She expatiated: “it was also the perfect avenue for channel partners and stakeholders in the telecoms industry to review NIGCOMSAT’s performance and operations.
“NIGCOMSAT is a key player in the Nigeria National Broadband Plan (NNBP 2020-2025), as published by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and launched by President Muhammadu Buhari.
”The forum, thus, highlighted the contributions of NIGCOMSAT Ltd. as a national digital economy service infrastructure, providing satellite communication solutions to an array of customers”, the NIGCOMSAT boss added.
Commenting at the forum, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, commended the operations of NIGCOMSAT Ltd, particularly its contributions to Nigeria’s technological strides as they relate to satellite deployment and operations over the years.
He said: “Satellite operations are key to telecommunications growth in the country, so NIGCOMSAT Ltd. should be guided to succeed by all stakeholders.”
