How Nigcomsat-1R will impact Nigerian economy'

By Prince OsuagwuA few days from to day, Nigeria will re-write history when it returns to space with the launch of  its communications satellite, tagged Nigcomsat 1R. The event is slated for Xichang, China on Monday, December,19,2011 by 5pm local time.

Explaining the benefits of the satellite to a few ICT journalists recently, Managing Director, NIGCOMSAT ltd, Engr.Timasaniyu Ahmed Rufai said that the launch is expected to boost Nigeria's Global Competitive Index ,GDI ranking even as the services it will provide for telecommunications, broadcast, broadband internet, among other clients will be greatly enhanced in Nigeria's race to achieve the Vision 20:2020 goals.

NIGCOMSAT Limited was incorporated as a limited liability company in April 2006. NIGCOMSAT Limited is responsible for the operation and management of Nigerian Communications Satellites starting with NigComSat-1 which was launched in May 2007 and de-orbited afterwards 18 months. A replacement satellite, NigComSat-1R which has the same features however with a few modifications as NigComSat-1.

NigComSat-1R, which is the second Nigerian Communication satellite, is to be placed into a geosynchronous orbit and positioned at 42.5oE.

The Ka-band payload will have 8 channels providing communications using 3 fixed spot beams over Europe, South Africa and Nigeria for trunking services and broadcasting".

NIGCOMSAT said it has over 200 trained and equipped engineers and a so then established ground control station at Abuja, Nigeria and a backup station at Kashi, China for the spacecraft tracking & control, Payloads Management and innovation customisations & domestication.

Rufai added that "our strategic plan is centred on using our assets, the staff, the satellite and complementary ground infrastructures as an extraordinary vehicle to drive the National ICT revolution in pursuit of self-reliance and required skills for engineering and innovation domestication of secured satellite bandwidth and telecommunication services for defence, security outfits and other strategic telecommunications and broadcast needs of the nation.

Additionally, NIGCOMSAT seeks to partner with all stakeholders to complement existing terrestrial telecommunication infrastructures to promote universal access through innovative, affordable, high speed broadband telecommunication services to enhance ICT usage, ICT skills and increase IDI  of Nigerian citizens. This will ultimately diversify monolithic national revenue, create jobs, and improve security and socio-economic development of Nigeria"

The company as a commercial satellite operator has the mandate to offer wide range of Information and Communications services and applications within and outside Nigeria in accordance with its satellite's footprints. Such services and applications include however not limited to:

The form of Corporate Networks

·Telecommunications services in the form of Corporate Networks, VSAT Networks, Urban Rural Telephony, Mobile & Paging Services, Inter-carrier Services and Satellite to Satellite Services

· Internet and Multimedia – Video Conference, Virtual Private Networks, Voice over Internet Protocol

Satellite communications and truly NIGCOMSAT in Nigeria provides unparalleled competitive advantages over terrestrial networks of any organisation in the country just as:

The only telephony

Satellite communications is the only telephony and broadband wide-area network technology in other words available everywhere. Meaning uniform services for all locations in Nigeria and to all intents and purposes all areas where we have footprints. All that's needed is a clear view of the sky.

Managing the communication network is as well simpler and less expensive, since there is one point of contact for all locations, versus multiple local service providers and problematic demarcations between them.

Satellite networks are more secure and private than alternative terrestrial technologies, making them the research of choice for governmental agencies, security organisations, military and enterprises that require high levels of security.

The internet crosses many computers

IP traffic across the internet crosses many computers, providing multiple points of access to private traffic.  Satellite communications does not travel across third party terrestrial computers, minimizing chances of unapproved access.

Satellite networks are independent of terrestrial disruptions, making them an excellent solution for communication backups for terrestrial networks. They are as well useful for disaster recovery and quick-deploy solutions, enabling communication services to be quickly restored.

Satellite networks have far fewer potential points of failure than terrestrial solutions, and built-in redundancy at nearly every level, satellite networks provide unmatched reliability. Typical satellite networks can assure 99.95% availability to all sites, regardless of location.

Terrestrial networks have multiple potential points of failure. To add to the challenge, terrestrial network providers may not be able to fix outages without third-party carriers or work crews. Both telephony and modern broadband networks are challenged to provide this level of nationwide reliability.

Satellite's inherent strengths as a broadcast medium makes VSAT networks ideal for the distribution of bandwidth-intensive information - data, video or audio - to large numbers of remote locations.

Terrestrial network requires sending separate

A terrestrial network requires sending separate and identical messages to all recipients, consuming valuable bandwidth and server resources. Satellite multicast innovation eliminates duplicate transmissions and maximizes the efficiency of existing servers and networks, freeing valuable bandwidth. There's no extra overhead at the hub or in the satellite. The only added cost for each recipient is the VSAT. That translates to significant cost savings.

Satellite communications provides advanced communications infrastructure to regions that do not have adequate terrestrial infrastructure as is the case in Nigeria through:

Satellite networks are much less costly to deploy, maintain and operate in many cases than terrestrial network technologies. Terrestrial networks require heavy infrastructure, whether they are telephony networks, or broadband data networks.

In remote areas, building such networks is often prohibitively expensive. VSATs are not only significantly less expensive to deploy, VSATs built for low power consumption can run without electrical power infrastructure, using simple solar panels.

Satellite networks can be rolled out to hundreds or thousands of locations in a fraction of the time required for a comparable terrestrial network. VSAT installation requires only a single vendor, so multi-vendor coordination is not needed.

An installation can mostly be completed in a matter of hours, no matter where the site is located, meaning complete network deployment can be accomplished in a matter of weeks, in other words than months. Satellite network installation and deployment are in fact quick and simple.

Unmatched ability to support a wide range of devices

VSAT research has an unmatched ability to support a wide range of devices and applications. Single platform scan provide voice, fax, data and video communications. Data networks can support advanced functions including IP multicasting.

VSATs are software upgradeable, adding new capabilities mostly do not require a technician at the remote locations. The modular design of VSAT systems as well allows for maximum scalability and fast upgrades - with an ease and simplicity not possible with terrestrial networks.