On March 24, 2009, the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Nigerian Communication Satellite Ltd. (NigComSat Ltd.) and China Great Wall Industry Corp. (CGWIC) signed a contract in Beijing for the in-orbit delivery of the NigComSat-1R satellite.
The NigComSat-1R satellite is based on the DFH-4 satellite platform developed by China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). Fitted with a total of 28 transponders ( 8 Ka-band, 14 Ku-band, 4 C-band and 2 L-band), the satellite will be positioned at a longitude of 42.5°E over the equator, and will have a design life span of 15 years.
The satellite will replace the NigComSat-1, which failed in orbit in November 2008 due to solar array anomaly. NigcomSat-1R satellite was successfully launched on board the LM-3B launch vehicle developed by CALT from XSLC on Dec.20, 2011; and was delivered in orbit to NIGCOMSAT LTD. on March 2,2012.
Nigcomsat 1R’s communications package has 28 active transponders and seven antennas ranging over sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and Central Asia. The transponders will broadcast in C-band, Ku-band, Ka-band and L-band, according to Nigcomsat. The satellite will be placed at 42.5 degrees east longitude in geosynchronous orbit. To enhance Nigcomsat 1R’s performance over the previous Nigcomsat 1 satellite, China made a number of improvements. According to Nigcomsat’s website, communications between China and Nigeria will be facilitated by a Ku-band spot beam on Nigcomsat 1R. By helping to create jobs and reducing the high costs associated with phone calls and broadband Internet access, Nigcomsat 1R has the potential to boost economic growth in Africa. The satellite’s Ku-band transponders will target areas of China and southwestern Africa, while its C-band payload will travel throughout Africa. According to Nigcomsat, the Ka-band system will be connected to spot beams aimed at South Africa, Nigeria, and Europe. In order to provide more precise satellite positioning services in Africa, Nigcomsat 1R will transmit two L-band navigation channels.