Nigeria is set to expand its space and communications infrastructure after the Federal Executive Council approved the acquisition of two next-generation High-Throughput Communication Satellites, NIGCOMSAT-2A and NIGCOMSAT-2B.
NIGCOMSAT’s Acting Head of Corporate Affairs, Stephen Kwande, announced the approval on Saturday, marking a major step in the country’s plan to increase domestic satellite capacity and lessen reliance on foreign infrastructure.
Thales Alenia Space of France and Israel Aerospace Industries will deliver the satellites, while NIGCOMSAT will implement the programme in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
NIGCOMSAT Managing Director, Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, said the new spacecraft would strengthen national communications, extend broadband access and enable the company to deliver greater value to Nigerians while building a stronger position in the global satellite and digital economy.
Their reach will be particularly important in communities where conventional telecommunications infrastructure is difficult or costly to establish. The satellites are expected to support broadband, broadcasting, enterprise connectivity, government services and emerging digital applications, while also providing capacity for national security and defence communications.
Satellite-enabled services could further support education, healthcare, agriculture and financial services, bringing connectivity to locations that remain difficult to serve through terrestrial networks.
The programme is also expected to open opportunities for Nigerian companies and professionals in telecommunications, broadcasting, ground infrastructure, systems integration, technical support and other satellite-related services. NIGCOMSAT expects knowledge transfer, professional development, local manufacturing and specialised expertise in satellite engineering, network operations and cybersecurity to form part of the wider benefits.
The decision follows years of preparation for the next phase of Nigeria’s satellite programme. NIGCOMSAT-1R, launched in 2011, was approaching the end of its 15-year operational lifespan when NIGCOMSAT began seeking global investors in July 2024 for its replacement.
In January 2025, NIGCOMSAT partnered with Eutelsat to deploy low-Earth-orbit satellite services in Nigeria. The company was also working to increase commercial use of its existing capacity and, in August 2025, set a three-year revenue target of ₦8 billion through broadband expansion after reporting that only about 7% of its broadband capacity was being utilised.
By March 2026, NIGCOMSAT reported that revenue had risen from N650 million in 2023 to more than N2 billion in 2025. It also confirmed the planned NIGCOMSAT-2A and 2B satellites, then scheduled for launch in 2028 and 2029.
Following the FEC approval, NIGCOMSAT will move into formal engagement with its technology partners, contract finalisation and technical planning ahead of manufacturing, launch and deployment.
The programme arrives as Nigeria is also expanding its digital broadcasting infrastructure. In June 2026, the Federal Government nationally launched the Digital Switch-Over Free TV Project, built around a combination of digital terrestrial television, direct-to-home satellite delivery and digital application-based platforms.
At the launch, Communications Minister Bosun Tijani said President Bola Tinubu had approved two additional satellites to strengthen Nigeria’s communications capacity.
NIGCOMSAT-2A and NIGCOMSAT-2B therefore represent a significant addition to Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, with implications for connectivity, broadcasting, public services, national security and the development of specialised Nigerian expertise in satellite technology.
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