The Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited has signed a cooperative agreement with Thales Alenia Space in Toulouse, France, to collaborate on the testing of NigComSat-1R payload and demonstration of the capability of NigComSat-1R payload for Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS).
Adamu Idris, Head, Public Affairs of NIGCOMSAT, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said successful testing of NigComSat-1R payload on Thales Alenia facility was aimed at boosting business opportunities with the view of addressing Navigation and Maritime Safety in Africa in collaboration with other institutional stakeholders in Africa.
Under the agreement, Idris said NIGCOMSAT would acquire critical SBAS equipment worth about €400,000 free from Thales, including utilisation of NIGCOMSAT services and knowledge transfer.
The signing of the contract and cooperative agreement between NIGCOMSAT Ltd and Thales Alenia Space, which took place at the Thales Alenia Space head office in Toulouse, France, came on the heels of negotiations and final agreement between the two parties.
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Kazeem Kolawole Raji, Executive Director, Engineering Services, who led the NIGCOMSAT team, described the cooperative agreement as a platform that would kick-start the collaboration between NIGCOMSAT Ltd and Thales Alenia Space towards establishing the capacity of NIGCOMSAT Navigation Payload towards the utilisation of the Navigation payload of NigComSat-1R to improve Navigation and Maritime safety across Africa and beyond.
Bennoit Brody, Vice President, Satellite Navigation Business Unit of Thales Alenia Space, said the agreement would open a flood gate to demonstrate both the capacity of NigComSat-1R navigation payload and the capacity of Thales Alenia Space as a leading satellite equipment provider and finally create potential business opportunities in Navigation safety in Africa.
