Nigerian Satellite launched by China
Afro-Chinese Cooperation
The official Xinhua news agency says it is the first time that a foreign buyer has purchased both a Chinese satellite and its launching service.
The Nigerian Communication Satellite NIGCOMSAT-1 is expected to offer broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband internet services for Africa.
China beat 21 other bidders for the $311m contract to launch the satellite in 2004, Xinhua says.
The satellite, launched by a Long March 3-B rocket, is expected to reach its final position later this year and to remain in operation for 15 years.
The launch is being portrayed as part of a drive to enhance rural access to technology and the internet and boost Nigeria’s and Africa’s knowledge economy.
“It gives you bandwidth to enable you to communicate from point A to point B, from rural Africa to urban cities,” Dr Bashir Gwandu, a member of the Satellite Launch Committee and a director at the Nigeria Communications Commission told the BBC’s Focus on Africa.
Nigeria has been experiencing a communications revolution in recent years, says the BBC’s Alex Last, and is one of the fastest growing mobile phone markets in Africa and the world.
Having a space programme is also symbolic of how Nigeria wants to be seen as a growing player on the world stage
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More @BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/6653067.stm
This is a great opportunity for Africa especially we nigerian to achieve great opportunity by communicating through the modern means of communication satelite in colabouration with chinesse scientist. I want to tell them that more greese to thier elbow and they should let this means spread all over nigeria so that all the people living in nigeria will have access to it by doing the services where ever they are. Thank you.
i realy appreciate the communication satellite. but i want to get internet service through the satellite.
Am a student of LASU,dept of communication tech. and i hope to get profile on NIGCOM SAT-1 that was launched in nigeria by the chinese. and i hope this launch will one of the best thing that will come out of nigeria.
THI IS GREAT. WE WILL LIKE TO KNOW WHO TO CONTACT BECAUSE WE NEED THE SERVICE FOR OUR PRODUCT TO BE INTRODUCED IN NIGERIA SOON.
WHAT SATELITE AND COMPANY IS COVERING NIGERIA CURRENTLY.
MG.
nigcom sat is a welcome development,it awesome.
i can do something better than the chinese
i think its a good opportunity for nigerians but i think an awareness programe and some form of training should be established to enlightin nigerians on its benefits