SATELLITE BASED BROADBAND IN NIGERIA,
PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES
THE 2013 e-NIGERIA CONFERENCE
ON
IT LOCAL CONTENT DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: THE JOURNEY SO FAR
Presented by: ENGR. T.AHMED-RUFAI MD/CE, NIGCOMSAT LTD
December, 2013
NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE (NIGCOMSAT) LIMITED
“...Broadband
has
become
synonymous with state of art
economy of any nation. It is a
developmental tool and must-have
for competitiveness of nations.” --Engr. T. Ahmed-Rufai MD/CE
NIGCOMSAT LTD, 2012
Picture Source: http://www.itu.int
What is Broadband?
3

Broadband is enough two-way transmission capacity
and speed to allow interactive high-quality fullmotion video, data and voice applications
simultaneously via one “pipe.” (Meredith Singer - ITU
& Europe/NIS Programs)
Broadband…
4

Consequently, broadband definition could vary
from country to country depending on its level
of ICT applications in use (Stage of ICT
development).
Broadband…
5

India with over 1.3 billion people revised definition of it’s
broadband from 256 kbps to 512 kbps on on 1st January,
2011. Considering consumer trends and projections,
particularly on mobile network data speeds, the Government
of India approved stipulated download speed of 2 mbps for
any broadband connection based on any technology with
effect from January 1, 2015 based on its national broadband
plan (India TRA, 2010).
Broadband…
6


Recommendation I.113 of the ITU Standardization Sector (ITU-T)
defines broadband as a transmission capacity that is faster than
primary rate ISDN, at 1.5 or 2.0 Mbit/s
Broadband definition currently in US by FCC is an internet
connection with 1mbps upstream and 4mbps downstream speed
and subjective to applicable technologies (Based on 6th
Broadband Progress Report and subject to review again)

Broadband within the Nigerian context (The Nigerian National
Broadband Plan; 2013-2018) is defined as an internet experience
where the user can access the most demanding content in real time
at a minimum speed of 1.5 Mbit/s.
Why Broadband?
7


Policy-makers may be sceptical that broadband can actually deliver benefits
and they often ask these questions:
 Why would a nation struggling to provide basic amenities to its citizens
worry about broadband access?
 Will broadband connectivity really drive the nation’s economy or just
make Internet connections faster?
 Can it create jobs, enhance safety and security, improve health care,
literacy rate and promote an all-inclusive democracy?
The following slides provides veritable response.
Why Broadband
8
Year 2020
”Everything that benefits from being connected
will be connected”
Impact of Broadband on the Economy
9
Source:
Impact of Broadband on the Economy
10
Source:
Impact of Broadband on the Economy
11
Table 3 – Research results of broadband impact on employment in the United States
Source:
Broadband Applications
12
Broadband has the potential of enabling entire new industries and changing how we educate our children,
deliver health-care, enhance farming, ensure public safety, engage government, and access, organize and
disseminate knowledge.
Tele Medicine
Agriculture
Tele Education
E-Government
Public Safety and Security
Delivering Broadband
13
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber
Line (ADSL) is a technology similar
to the DSL technology. With ADSL,
information is downloaded more
rapidly than it is uploaded.
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
Broadband a technology that
delivers broadband over your
phone line to be used in the
home or office.
Cable Broadband - Broadband is
delivered through a cable. You can
only get cable broadband if a
company has cabled your street.
Wireless Broadband – using
variants of Wireless systems
such as variants of CDMA,
GSM, WIMAX and WIFI.
Symmetric
broadband (SDSL) is
a technology similar
to ADSL broadband.
SDSL
broadband
downloads
information at the
same speed as it
uploads information.
Satellite Broadband: Two-way services via Communication satellite on varying bands (Traditionally
on Ku and C- band and most recently higher spectral frequencies Ka-band and beyond.
Africa’s Realities
14


Africa remains the least wired continent in the world in terms of robust
telecommunications infrastructure and systems to cater for its more than one
billion people.
Reasons why wireless systems in the form of Communications satellites and
variants of terrestrial wireless systems are in great demand more than any
other continent (Non-military use); for the sole purpose of bridging its
digital hiatus and complementing the inadequate terrestrial ICT
infrastructure in the hinterland, swampy and landlocked cities thus playing
critical role of delivering ICT readiness in unserved and underserved areas.
Broadband in Nigeria, State of Play
15
The combined landed submarine optic
fiber capacity is over 10 Tbit/s.
Broadband in Nigeria, State of Play
16
Over 10Tbps cable landing capacity at the shores of Nigeria with only
limited 0.5Tbps being transmitted to the hinterlands.
Internet penetration is quoted at 33% and Broadband penetration stands
at 6%.
72.25% access through wireless networks mainly GSM which leaving
27.75% access via other media.
2G Mobile coverage is 65% while 3G is only 35% and concentrated in
Urban Areas, therefore broadband is only available in metro cities.
Our Realities in Nigeria
17
Urban
Suburban
Rural
70% of the Nigerian citizens resides here!
Some degree of Coverage
Minimal Coverage to zero coverage
Why the Challenge – The Broadband supply chain
18
International
connectivity


National
backbone
network
Metropolitan
access links
Local access
network (the
last mile)
Whereas there is international connectivity (over 10Tbit/s), the local access network
through a national backbone network and metropolitan access links is limited.
The Nigeria’s Communication Satellite (NigComSat-1R) which could have served
as conduit to improve the access links is grossly underutilized.
Effect
19
Huge
Capacity at
shores, less
utilization on
land
Due to high cost of
setting up of land wire
broadband
infrastructure. The cost
of
distributing
broadband in Lagos
alone using cable
outweighs the landing
cost of Main One
Cable from Europe to
Lagos. (Funke, CEO
Main One )
Annual
Capital
Flight of
about $450
million
A huge chunk of satellite
capacity being used for
connectivity in Nigeria is yet
to be tapped from local
capacity being provided by
the
Government
through
NigComSat-1R.
This,
according to experts, has
resulted in an annual capital
flight of about $450 million
from bandwidth purchase
from abroad
Communications Satellite is the answer as a “low-hanging fruit” to
meet short and medium term plans of the National Broadband Plan!
20

If we must optimize access to information and guarantee
universal access in the short and medium term to all citizens,
including those in very remote areas with little or no terrestrial
network, then Communications Satellite as space-based
wireless systems infrastructure should remain within the
framework of our ICT policy and broadband implementation
to complement existing and inadequate terrestrial
infrastructure as well as strategic national and continental
telecommunication infrastructure during natural disasters and
emergencies.
Communications Satellite is the answer as a “low-hanging fruit” to
meet short and medium term plans of the National Broadband Plan!
21

There should be government policy intent on use of satellite
broadband as primary source of Internet in rural and swampy
areas with associated ground technologies and redundancy in
areas with optic-fiber to mitigate against cuts, damages and
theft considering our geography, lack of channelized roads,
subways, railways and poor urban and regional planning.
Can Satellite Deliver Broadband?
22

Satellite communication as a major means of broadcast and
mass media is unquestionable. The recently concluded London
Olympics 2012 games is attestation to not just the broadband
capability of Communication Satellites but also the HDTV and
3DTV transmission quality assurance. The 2012 First HD
Olympic games was the first Genuine Major Carrier
Cooperation for DVB satellite television transmissions,
achieving historic levels of broadcast quality with carrier-ID
implementations.
Can Satellite Deliver Broadband?
23
Satellite platforms for both free-toair and pay services have proven
more suitable for broadcasting a
range of HD channels than Digital
Terrestrial Television (DTT) since the
bandwidth spectrum is not scarce
(frequency
reuse
through
polarization and space diversity,
utilization of higher frequency
bands such as the Ka-band etc).
HD CHANNELS IN EUROPE
Can Satellite Deliver Broadband?
24


Using satellite broadband technology, several patients in a
remote areas in Canada were treated over 900 miles away;
without terrestrial connectivity, the patients would have waited
for months until specialist arrives their area.
The Tele-medicine Foundation of Russia is focused on using
Satellite broadband technology to conduct telemedicine
consultations between Russia and other countries in Europe and
North America, as well as within Russia’s vast borders.
Source: ITU SPU Broadband Workshop 2003 (Meredith Singer – Telecommunications Industry Association)
Can Satellite Deliver Broadband?
25

A new “virtual university” in Pakistan provides
learning using the television, video conferencing
Internet via Communications Satellite. The university
nearly 60,000 computer science graduates so that
help build an IT industry in Pakistan.
distance
and the
will train
they can
Source: ITU SPU Broadband Workshop 2003 (Meredith Singer – Telecommunications Industry Association)
Can Satellite Deliver Broadband?
26
YES, WE CAN!
27


African leaders and stakeholders have recognized the many
challenges that confront their countries and are addressing
them with ambitious and adventurous ICT development
programs.
The Federal Government of Nigeria took the bull by the horns
and responded with a communication satellite launch designed
to meet West African Sub-Saharan needs amongst other
regions.
Yes, We can!
28
.
The NigComSat-1R
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

The communication Payload comprises of
40 transponders; 28 active and 12
redundant as shown below.

C-Band – 4 active transponders
(36MHz each)

Ku-Band – 14 active transponders
(31.5MHz each)

Ka-Band – 8 active transponders
(120MHz each)

L-Band(Navigation) – 2 active
transponders
And Seven (7) Service Antennas.
NigComSat-1R…
30
NigComSat-1R has been in operation in the last
20 months (Commenced commercial activity on
19th March, 2012 after successful In-Orbit Test
and In-Orbit Delivery) with modest achievement in
terms of improving and driving national
broadband access in homes, offices, business,
schools and enterprise in Nigeria as well as
prospects and potentials outside our shores.
NigComSat-1R…
31

Communications Satellite (Comsat)




It is the only technology that guarantees ubiquitous availability with its
ability to drive the 3A’s of universal broadband plans with advent of
High Throughput Satellite; Availability, Accessibility and Affordability.
Provides secured and fast services for both civilian use and military
operations.
Not vulnerable to vandalisation and natural disasters on earth thus
strategic and critical for all phases of disaster and emergency response.
Services can be provided in ANY PART of Nigeria within hours.
Prospects and Potentials of Satellite Broadband in Nigeria
32



With development and directive which will drive utilisation of NigComSat1R, there will be retained cash flow within the country with less burden on
our foreign reserve and thus quantum leap on economic growth and
development.
NigComSat-1R together with the broadband capacity of the National
Public Security Communications System (NPSCS) will facilitate the
availability of broadband connectivity to at least 35 percent of homes by
2015 especially in rural and Local areas where the niche market is
situated.
NigComSat-1R will facilitate the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) pursuit of
a cash-less economy and Government policies on e-government services.
Prospects and Potentials of Satellite Broadband in Nigeria
33


With the advent of High Throughput Satellites (HTS), the capacity and
efficiency of satellite in providing broadband Internet is exponentially
improving.

Viasat-1 with 140Gbps in North America.

Ka-Sat with 70Gbps in Europe

Achievable Terrabit/s Geo COMSATs (19th Ka-Band Conference by GLR in
Florence, Italy).
If the mentioned satellites above are serving the most wired continents
in the world, then Africa must raise its bar to adopt next-generation
satellites (HTS) as the least wired continent to bridge its huge ICT
infrastructural gap aside strategic needs.
Prospects and Potentials of Satellite Broadband in Nigeria
34



Africa is considered an emerging market for satellite-based
platforms in terms of Free-To-Air (FTA) and Pay TV penetration
Satellite Digital Television complements Terrestrial Television and
offers an alternative to Digital Terrestrial Television considering huge
challenges that comes with digital migration as we move close to ITU
deadline of June 17th , 2015 for Analogue Switch-Off (ASO).
NIGCOMSAT Ltd’s complete state-of-the art digital satellite TV
Direct – To- Home (DTH) Head–End beckons to broadcasters, content
providers, content distributors and media entrepreneurs.
Prospects and Potentials of Satellite Broadband in Nigeria
35



Despite all the advances in science and technology, humankind
remains vulnerable to the effect of natural and man-made disasters.
Communications satellite remains the only platform for rapid
response emergency networks and at all phases of emergency and
disaster management.
Response to disasters by national emergency agencies of
underdeveloped and developing nations with inadequate or little
terrestrial communication infrastructure should not only be limited to
food, water and shelter but communications-disaster preparedness
as the first line of action to facilitate timely disaster response.
Prospects and Potentials of Satellite Broadband in Nigeria
36


Emergency response networks can broadcast information from the
government of the affected nation and assist in facilitating and
coordinating help from aid donors etc.
A secured and integrated communications public safety network via
COMSATs plays a pivotal role to security agencies (i.e Police, Military,
Airforce and paramilitary units); specialized emergency service units and
organizations such as: Fire Fighters, Road safety teams, Mobile medical
units with such an efficiently delivered information symmetry to multiple
agencies to ensure first-response coordinated effectiveness.
Challenges of Satellite Broadband
37
Government Policy Implementation Challenges
 Aparthy to Communications Satellite Utilization:
Latency syndrome.
 Back-up Communications Satellite

Conclusion
38




The success of Nigeria’s information technology policy and infrastructure in
the short and medium term remains wireless systems (Space and
terrestrially based).
Satellite Communications have a competitive advantage as they
complement the present sparsely distributed terrestrial links.
The NIGCOMSAT-1R as the first indigenously operated and managed
communication satellite is fast-tracking development and playing a critical
role in delivering ICT readiness with spin-off benefits too numerous to
mention here.
NigComSat-1R Communication Satellite remains a “low hanging fruit” ready
to drive and improve broadband penetration in Nigeria.
Conclusion
The big picture of broadband internet access and connectivity in
Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
40
Thank You!