On March 19, the in-orbit delivery ceremony of Nigerian communications satellite 1R, or NigComSat 1R, was held in the satellite ground station nearby Abuja, Nigeria.
This is the first communications satellite owned by Nigeria
The NigComSat 1R was an alternative satellite rebuilt by China for Nigeria, said Yin Liming, president of the China Great Wall Industry Corporation in his speech. With 28 transponders and seven antennas, Ku Kashi beam was added to the satellite in addition to the band C, L, Ku and Ka, which can provide commercial communications services for the continents of Asia and Africa at the same time, enjoying bright commercial operation prospects.
China fulfilled its commitment with practical actions
The NigComSat 1R was sent into space by the Long March III B rocket on Dec 20, 2011. The satellite has orbited in space for more than three months. The in-orbit test phase has been completed. Its condition is stable, according to the engineering and technical manager of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited.
A peddler selling telephone cards on the street of Abuja said that Nigeria’s satellite was launched by China. Since Nigeria has its own satellite, it no longer needs to pay big bucks to rent satellites of other countries, which can reduce the communications costs to some extent and common people will benefit from that. He said “The Nigerians like China because China not only has high technology, but also produce all kinds of affordable but exquisite goods. China has really helped Africa a lot”.
Follow-up cooperation projects promoted stably
The operation of NigComSat 1R will improve Nigeria’s national infrastructures and meet Nigeria’s demands in communications, broadcasting, broadband multimedia, navigation services, real-time audio and video security surveillance and distance education, according to the marketing manager of the Nigerian Communications Limited.
It is reported that the Nigerian communication satellite will provide Nigerians with more than 150,000 communications-related employment opportunities. It is estimated that the efficient two-way satellite will save over 95 million U.S. dollars for Nigerian broadband users every year, and save more than 660 million U.S. dollars of telephone relay and data exchange business fees for African users.
Source:chinesestock