Nigeria has signed a deal with Thales Alenia Space to develop a new telecommunications satellite, NigComSat-2A, as the country seeks to expand broadband access, strengthen its communications infrastructure and capture a larger share of Africa’s growing digital economy.

The agreement between the Federal Government-owned Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) and Thales Alenia Space was signed in Cannes, France, on September 14, 2026.

Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture owned 67 per cent by Thales and 33 per cent by Leonardo, will develop the geostationary satellite to provide television broadcasting, broadband internet and other digital services, including voice communications and streaming.

NigComSat-2A will have a launch mass of nearly four tonnes and is expected to provide coverage across West, Central and Southern Africa.

The satellite is also expected to improve connectivity in underserved and remote communities where terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure remains limited.

Satellite to Operate for Over 15 Years

NigComSat-2A is expected to have an in-orbit operational life exceeding 15 years and will be based on Thales Alenia Space’s Spacebus B2 platform.

The investment is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s satellite communications capacity while providing additional infrastructure to support businesses, governments and consumers across the continent.

NIGCOMSAT Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Nkechi Egerton-Idehen described the agreement as an important step in Nigeria’s digital transformation.

“The signing of this contract represents a bold step in Nigeria’s journey toward digital transformation,” she said.

Egerton-Idehen said the new satellite would strengthen Nigeria’s communications capacity while expanding access to reliable broadband and digital services for millions of Africans, particularly those in underserved communities.

The company expects the additional capacity to support digital inclusion, innovation and economic activity across the continent.

Nigeria Targets Growing Connectivity Demand

The new satellite comes as African economies increasingly rely on broadband infrastructure to support financial technology, e-commerce, digital government services, education, entertainment and other internet-dependent industries.

For Nigeria, satellite technology provides another route to extending connectivity beyond locations that can be economically served by fibre-optic cables and conventional mobile infrastructure.

Satellite capacity can be particularly important in rural and difficult-to-reach locations where deploying extensive terrestrial networks is more challenging.

The project could therefore complement Nigeria’s wider efforts to expand broadband coverage while strengthening the resilience of its communications infrastructure.

Thales Sees Growing Market for Satellite Services

Thales Alenia Space President and Chief Executive Officer Hervé Derrey said the satellite would strengthen NIGCOMSAT’s ability to compete in the growing communications market.

“NigComSat-2A geostationary satellite will enable NIGCOMSAT to strengthen its competitive position by delivering reliable, high-quality services that meet the growing demand for connectivity and digital content worldwide,” Derrey said.

He added that the contract demonstrated the capabilities of the company’s Spacebus B2 satellite platform, particularly in reliability and deployment efficiency.

The project could also strengthen NIGCOMSAT’s ability to offer commercial satellite capacity to customers outside Nigeria as demand for connectivity grows across the continent.

Building on NigComSat-1R

NIGCOMSAT was established in 2006 under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to operate Nigeria’s communications satellite infrastructure.

Its existing satellite, NigComSat-1R, was launched in December 2011 and became the first geostationary communications satellite of its kind operated in Sub-Saharan Africa.

NigComSat-2A is expected to provide additional capacity and greater flexibility as demand for broadband and digital services continues to expand.

The new infrastructure is also expected to improve the resilience of communications networks by providing an alternative in locations where ground-based infrastructure is unavailable, inadequate or difficult to deploy.

With coverage extending beyond Nigeria into several African regions, NigComSat-2A could also strengthen the country’s position in the continent’s satellite communications market.

The project represents another component of Nigeria’s broader digital infrastructure push, with expanded satellite capacity potentially supporting greater internet access, digital inclusion and new economic opportunities across underserved markets.