Page 32 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2025

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Eutelsat Partners with NIGCOMSAT to Launch

LEO Satellite Services in Nigeria

Eutelsat Group, a global leader in satellite communications and applications like remote communications, mobile connectivity,
Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) are and offshore operations. Commenting on the development, Cyril
proud to announce a groundbreaking multi-year, multi-million- Dujardin, President of the Connectivity Business Unit at Eutelsat
dollar partnership to deliver low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite services Group says, "We are honored to partner with NIGCOMSAT in this
in Nigeria. This strategic agreement positions NIGCOMSAT as transformative initiative to enhance digital inclusion in Nigeria. LEO
Nigeria's leading satellite service provider by leveraging the OneWeb satellites are vital for providing fast, reliable connectivity in remote
LEO network to deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity. The and underserved areas. This collaboration underscores Eutelsat's
services will cater to a wide range of sectors, including government, commitment to driving global digital transformation. We look
enterprises, and underserved rural areas, supporting essential forward to a long, fruitful relationship with NIGCOMSAT." On her
part, NIGCOMSAT's Managing Director/CEO, Jane Nkechi Egerton-
Idehen, stated that, "We are delighted to deepen our collaboration
with Eutelsat, a globally renowned satellite technology leader. This
partnership is a milestone for NIGCOMSAT, enabling us to bridge
Nigeria’s digital divide through the cutting-edge capabilities of
OneWeb LEO satellites. Together, we will deliver scalable, reliable
connectivity solutions to foster growth across government services,
businesses and communities nationwide." This partnership attests
to the strong ties between Nigeria and France in advancing satellite
and space technology. By joining forces, Eutelsat and NIGCOMSAT
are poised to drive innovation, accelerate digital transformation,
and open new opportunities for connectivity across Nigeria and
beyond.

Eutelsat, Partners Claim Satellite 5G First

Eutelsat Group, Mediatek, and Airbus and traditional sources would open the way we are now another step closer to bringing
Defence and Space conducted what they to “ubiquitous connectivity with economies the next generation of 3GPP-based NR-
asserted as the world’s first successful of scale” benefiting smartphone users, NTN satellite wideband connectivity for
trial of a 5G non-terrestrial-network (NTN) the automotive industry, and other IoT commercial use.” The move is the latest
connection involving a commercial fleet of deployments. Head of wireless system in the competitive NTN space, with major
low Earth orbit satellites. In a statement, and ASIC engineering at Mediatek players announcing regular breakthroughs
Eutelsat positioned the demonstration as Mingxi Fan noted, “By making real-world and operators looking skywards in their
paving the way for deployment of a 5G NTN connections with LEO satellites in orbit, ambitions for ubiquitous coverage.
standard, which enables interoperability
between satellite and terrestrial
infrastructure. Eutelsat used its commercial
OneWeb LEO fleet for the test, during
which a 5G user terminal was connected
to the core by a satellite link, with traffic
exchanged. Alongside equipment and
work from the trio, they used technology
from Taiwan-based Industrial Technology
Research Institute (ITRI), Sharp, and Rohde
& Schwarz. The companies employed
the Ku-band, a range commonly used in
satellite communications. Eutelsat chief
engineering officer Arlen Kassighian
noted the demonstration would help pave
“the way for new applications in future
constellations.” The company added
compatibility of 5G supplied from space

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