At a media briefing in Lagos, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Nkechi Jane Egerton-Idehen, revealed that NigComSat now handles more than half of Nigeria’s broadcast traffic—an achievement she described as a sharp turnaround compared to its position just two years ago.
According to her, the company has successfully reconnected with major institutional clients, including the National Broadcasting Commission, Galaxy Backbone, and the National Identity Management Commission. These organisations, alongside a growing number of telecom operators and service providers, now rely once again on NigComSat’s infrastructure.
Egerton-Idehen explained that some of these clients had previously disengaged from the platform over a decade ago, requiring deliberate efforts to win them back. The company’s recovery strategy has focused on rebuilding trust, enhancing service quality, and actively re-engaging customers that had migrated to competing providers.
She noted that NigComSat currently supports critical services such as digital switch-over (DSO) broadcast traffic, underscoring its renewed relevance in Nigeria’s communications ecosystem. More than half of the country’s broadcast stations, she added, are now hosted on its network.
Rebuilding After Past Setbacks
The CEO also reflected on the historical challenges that contributed to the company’s earlier decline. Chief among them was the failure of its first satellite, an incident that significantly eroded customer confidence.
Although the satellite was insured and eventually replaced in 2011, the gap in service—lasting several years—prompted many long-standing clients to seek alternatives. For some, concerns about reliability persisted even after operations resumed, delaying their return.
Beyond infrastructure issues, Egerton-Idehen acknowledged that service delivery gaps, including slow response times and inconsistent performance, had also played a role in customer attrition. Addressing these weaknesses, she said, has been central to the company’s recent progress.
Call for Policy Support
As part of efforts to sustain the momentum, the NigComSat boss called for stronger government backing through procurement policies that prioritise local, state-owned providers.
She advocated a “right of first refusal” approach, urging public sector institutions to consider NigComSat as their primary option for satellite services before turning to external vendors. Given that the company is funded by public resources, she argued, it is both economically and strategically prudent for government agencies to utilise its capabilities.
Drawing comparisons with other countries, she pointed to models where government-backed satellite platforms receive mandatory patronage, particularly in sensitive sectors such as defence and national infrastructure.
Growth Outlook and Expansion Plans
The company’s resurgence is also reflected in its financial performance. NigComSat recently reported revenue of N2 billion for 2025, a significant increase from N650 million recorded the previous year.
Looking ahead, the organisation is preparing for further expansion with plans to launch two additional satellites—NIGCOMSAT-2A and NIGCOMSAT-2B—by 2028 and 2029. The projects have moved past the tender stage and are now entering financing and implementation phases.
Once operational, the new satellites are expected to enhance regional security capabilities, support real-time data collection, and provide critical intelligence services for Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
With renewed client confidence, improved service delivery, and ambitious expansion plans, NigComSat appears poised to re-establish itself as a central pillar in Nigeria’s digital and communications infrastructure.