After observing that Nigerian Communications Satellite known as NigComSat-1R, has failed to meet the target value of its launch by way of being beneficial, the Ministry of Communications has started working out how to redeem its image.
The ministry is now planning to sink another N2bn with the aim of raising N5bn from the commercialisation in a period of five years as it has placed advertisement on Federal Government Tender for contractors to express interest.
The new plan to commercialise Nigeria’s satellite infrastructure will tend to wire internet services direct to home and broadband connectivity across the country.
It would be recalled that Nigeria has spent fortunes in driving satellite technology, but no clear advantage has been recorded over the year, thus raising anxiety on the rationale of using N2bn to commercilaise what will or will not give the targeted N5bn.
Experts say investing in satellite technology the way the federal government is doing it will only amount to colossal waste of resources what cannot be useful over the year may not be viable even after the use of N2bn to commercilaise it.
The Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, was upbeat, saying that NigComSat Limited would pursue an aggressive plan to bridge the limitations to broadband access through communications satellite across the country.
According to him, “The viability of the communications satellite industry remains bright as the industry is the largest and most successful of all commercial space enterprises, generating more than $203bn globally in 2014 from $89bn in 2005”.
“It is anticipated that this figure will double in 2020. Nigeria must not be left behind in harnessing the huge, profitable market to its optimal advantage,” the minister was quoted to have said.
