Jonathan orders live transmission of Nigeria’s satellite launch

Jonathan orders live transmission of Nigeria’s satellite launch

Nigeria’s replaced satellite, NigComSat-1R, will be launched into the orbit on Monday, December 19.

The launch will take place in Xichang, China, by 5.00 p.m. Nigerian time ( 00:01 hrs Eastern Time in China).

Arrangement for live transmission

In connection with the launch, the Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, had directed NigComSat Ltd through the Minister of Communications Technology to work in collaboration with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) to beam the event live on television from China across Nigeria.

Consequently, NigComSat Ltd has disclosed that it has made adequate arrangement with the NTA for the live transmission of the satellite.

A source at the NTA also disclosed that the station’s Director-General, Usman Magawata, had instructed Executive Director, Engineering, NTA, Shuaib Nda Adama to lead the station’s crew to the launch in China.

The presidential order is a follow-up to a working paper made available to the president by the Communications Technology Minister, Mrs Omobola Johnson detailing updates of the satellite.

NigComSat-1R

Johnson said the NigComSat-1R would be used to combat emerging security threats and challenges in the country through the provision of timely access to communication and information services, which would complement the efforts of security agencies in the country.

Besides, she said NigComSat-1R, upon launch, would connect on-going police and public safety network by integrating it with existing systems to form an e-cloud database for the national security systems.

The minister said the satellite’s navigation-L band was a unique transponder with global coverage, which would be used for navigation and global positioning systems to monitor grid lines, pipelines, special equipment and real-time tracking system for fleet, ships, flocks and other mobile equipment, devices and events.

She explained that the Ministry would also utilise the satellite to assist the government in fulfilling many of its socio-economic objectives, which include the provision of affordable telecoms services to under-served regions, including remote and rural areas, which are not considered profitable.

NP/Adekusibe/Williams