Nigeria has selected French and Israeli aerospace companies to build two new communications satellites as part of efforts to expand the country’s digital infrastructure and strengthen its satellite capacity. The satellites, known as NigComSat 2A and NigComSat 2B, will be delivered by Israel Aerospace Industries and France’s Thales Alenia Space. The project followed approval by the Federal Executive Council for the acquisition and deployment of the satellites.
The development marks an important shift in Nigeria’s satellite procurement strategy, which has relied heavily on Chinese partners for its communications satellites. NIGCOMSAT said the project has now moved into the next stage, involving formal engagement with the selected technology partners, contract finalisation and technical planning ahead of manufacturing, launch and deployment. The first satellite is expected to be launched in 2028, while the second could follow in 2029 or 2030.
According to NIGCOMSAT, the new satellites will increase Nigeria’s capacity to provide high capacity broadband, broadcasting, enterprise connectivity and government services. They are also expected to complement terrestrial broadband networks by extending connectivity to underserved and hard to reach communities where conventional infrastructure may be difficult or expensive to deploy. The satellites could support sectors including education, healthcare, agriculture, financial services and broadcasting.
The project is also expected to strengthen Nigeria’s digital sovereignty by reducing dependence on foreign satellite infrastructure and improving secure communications for critical national services. NIGCOMSAT said the investment could create opportunities across telecommunications, broadcasting, ground infrastructure, systems integration, technical support and other satellite enabled services. It is also expected to support knowledge transfer and develop Nigerian expertise in satellite engineering, network operations and cybersecurity.