There are indications that the federal government through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will add an American Communication Company based in Carlsbad, Califonia among the league of satellite broadband services providers in the country.
This indication emerged, as the telecommunication regulator(NCC) gave audience to the visiting American Communication company in Abuja as its strategic plans to begin commercial operations in the country reached advance stage.
According to Danbatta (represented), the meeting outcome of the meeting aligns with the Federal Government’s plan to deepen digital culture in the country as it further reinstates regulatory policy for investors in the communication sector.
Engr. Augustine. Nwalunne, Ph.D., Director, Spectrum Administration at NCC, on behalf of Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman NCC, received the management of Viasat Inc over the week in Abuja.
It was confirmed that the NCC meeting with Viasat team was sequel to an earlier meeting with the EVC in March 2019, which opened discussion on regulatory supports for entry into the satellite communications market of the country.
As gathered, the American company has concluded plans for a nationwide service roll-out which will begin with a Proof of Concept (PoC) test in Abuja before the fourth quarter of this year.
The internet service provider plans to conduct the test in a community in the Federal Capital Territory, and subsequently extend its services across a states towards achieving its nationwide coverage by 2022.
Viasat has invested over $2.2 billion globally on geostationary satellite services, with a footprint in the Nigerian space towards bridging the extant digital divide in the country.
At the meeting, Viasat sought the Commission’s approval to reserve and use the 28 GHz KA frequency band in the country to provide cost-effective Internet connectivity and high throughput satellite connectivity through its incorporated Nigerian subsidiary, Viasat Nigeria.
The company expressed confidence that its services will be beneficial to unserved and underserved areas of Nigeria stating that the Viasat’s GTH satellite services is targeting homes, governments, schools as well as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), among others.
The company also declared readiness to provide cost-effective Internet connectivity via satellite and to provide high throughput satellite connectivity services covering military and commercial markets.
Viasat has years of operation as a provider of high-speed satellite broadband services and secure networking systems in the United States.
