Telecommunications: Nigeria wants to acquire two new satellites
February 2nd 2026
As the NigComSat-1R approaches the end of its life, Nigeria is accelerating its digital ambitions with the acquisition of two new telecom satellites, making this initiative part of a broader strategy for modernization and national connectivity.
Nigerian authorities are moving forward with their goal of acquiring two new telecommunications satellites to bolster the nation’s digital infrastructure. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the initiative, according to Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani, as reported by local media. Tijani made the announcement on Wednesday, January 28, in Abuja, at a press conference held by the Nigerian Data Protection Commission to mark World Privacy Day.
The two new satellites are intended to replace NigComSat-1R, the only communications satellite operated by Nigeria since December 2011. NigComSat-1R was launched to succeed NigComSat-1, which was put into orbit on May 13, 2007, with Chinese support, but lost shortly after launch. Designed for a 15-year lifespan, NigComSat-1R was scheduled to reach the end of its service life in 2026. However, the government announced in September 2025 that its operation would be extended until 2028.
According to the minister, the acquisition of new satellites is fully aligned with Nigeria’s digital transformation ambitions. He noted that the country is simultaneously continuing the deployment of 90,000 km of fiber optic cable, a project already 60% complete. Digital technology plays a central role in President Tinubu’s strategy to build a USD 1 trillion economy. Satellites can notably contribute to expanding access to ICTs in a country where the GSMA estimates that 120 million people out of a population of 223.8 million will not have mobile internet access by the end of 2023.
As early as 2016, the Nigerian government expressed its intention to acquire two new telecom satellites, estimating the project cost at approximately USD 500 million. At the time, the government indicated it was negotiating a loan with the Export-Import Bank of China (China Eximbank), following the financing model used for the first satellite.
However, Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, Managing Director of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat), explained in an interview with TechCabal in September 2025 that this scheme is no longer the only option. According to her, the process is now open, and several suppliers and investors have submitted bids.
Beyond the financial aspect, Ms. Egerton-Idehen emphasizes that Nigeria is also seeking to preserve its orbital slots, that is, the positions reserved for each country for satellite deployment. NigComSat-1R currently occupies one of the three slots allocated to Nigeria by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
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