Telecom
Enhancing Internet Penetration in Nigeria Using KA-Band Broadband Satellites
By Andrew Aroh
For a start, what is the classical definition of true broadband. Broadband is generally triple play data, voice and video access link, especially an internet access link, usually defined in terms of the minimum amount of bandwidth to which the enduser has access, and whose characteristics facilitate the use of advanced telecommunications applications and services.
Some definitions fix broadband access threshold at 1.5Mbps (T-1) speed in North America and at 2Mbps (E-1) speed in Europe, including Nigeria.
There are two important questions to address:
- Why is it that the high penetration of GSM in Africa and Nigeria in particular the issue of digital divide is still prevalent?
- How can Africa and Nigeria in particular secure sustainable universal access but affordably?
Recall that according to the broadband commission for digital development, the issue of Universal service for broadband, which is vitally important in ensuring that citizens in remote and rural areas can have access even though they live outside more profitable urban areas.
This is important because in this age of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). It is crucial to reach the rural and remote areas as well or Nigeria as a whole will fall further behind and the digital divide between “the haves and the have not” will remain divergent.
This underscores the New Roles for the Space & Satellite industry on Digital Economy, especially financial services now emphasized by the United Nations (UN) through the ITU-T.
So, is it not time for Nigeria to make a Legislation enabling HOME BUILDERS to include INTERNET CONNECTIVITY as part of the bargain for Social and Economic Welfare?
Government of Nigeria has included broadband as part of universal services obligations, regarding access to the internet as a utility and an essential tool for social and Economic Welfare. We recall that Nigeria planned big for the ITU Telecoms World 2016. Among the topics for the forum was:
New approaches to connectivity; re-imaging the satellite industry: How demand for always-on connectivity is leading to innovative connectivity solutions, new players and new markets for the satellite industry.
The topic underscores the way broadband is defined classically by ITU telecommunications monitory process (as distinct by ICT professionals) which usefully emphasize:
- Broadband’s always-on (dedicated access) character
- The user ability to upgrade her or his access bandwidth as the need arises
- The consideration that the local link be neither a limiting factor in deploying existing applications or a bottleneck in encouraging new ones.
These factors justifies the use of the phrase “Anywhere, Anytime” for true broadband connectivity and access.
- True Broadband performance shows up with the satellites that use Ka-band (20-30GHz) for satellite to-and-from ground transmission.
- The higher frequency of Ka-band system allows easy implementation of satellite spot beams, which when combined with channelized switching provides a capacity of a single Ka-band that can easily exceed that of Ku-band satellite by a factor of four or more.
With such systems, Ka-band allows satellites to provide access-oriented circuits to an entire continent at prices comparable to terrestrial delivery in cities. This will find broad residential applications where access services are more price sensitive.
However, flexibility defines the coming generation of broadband satellites. This is because by the long life and broad geographic scope, a satellite must be able to shift capacity among beams through onboard processing and space switching.
In the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, SSPI NIGERIA has identified growth in the following area:
- Education: Online teaching via satellite/distance learning via satellite
- Management: Video conferencing for management meetings
- Direct-To-Home Broadband Internet Access/Connectivity via Satellite.
The above applications have become very essential and are in high demand in Nigeria.
Note that the above applications demands: Two-way Satellite Internet access service with broadband consumer VSAT/other innovative products in personal connectivity, M2M and GLOBAL BROADBAND.
We are looking at the Satellite Networking Technology Solutions and Services that have the following features:
- A modern, technological product that provides subscribers with access to high-speed internet even in regions where the use of alternative access methods to the network are difficult
- High-quality and affordable broadband access to the internet
- Low-cost residential kits
- Supports automatic services activation-indoor or outdoor
- Where broadband consumer or professional VSAT is required:
- It is an innovative VSAT-in-a-Box
- Availability of the required capacity is guaranteed
- Reliability, Availability, & Flexibility of installation receiving equipment
- Broadband consumer VSAT terminal which can be self-installed.
- All outdoor solution, which further simplifies self-install, maintenance and easy mounting or placement.
Because of the issue of rain fade, the African region has seen a predominant of C-band satellites. However, the development of smart adaptive technologies on ka-band transmission is winning.
Although few African satellite operators are beginning to ramp up their strategies in this area, more African region operators will need to develop services in ka-band.
Satellite broadband via ka-band remains a key issue for a number of operators. In fact many global satellite operators are already playing a key role in satellite delivered broadband applications.
From corporate private networks to consumer connectivity, this is one business segment that remains strong on the industry’s revenue growth plans.
Major broadband service providers are ready to offer commercial internet services via satellite and ka-band satellites will be vital to their success.
I do think ka-band satellite will do certain things very well.
- Ka-band satellites are by nature very high-capacity.
- They have much more capacity per dollar of capital investment than any other satellite.
- It is very well suited for unicast applications were each user is doing something different and very cost-effective for that i.e. low-cost broadband service offering to consumers.
- It is a mass market and that branding could be the catalyst for its service success.
- The market opportunity in remote and rural areas is considerable
- Ka-band has better economics than Ku-band and C-band.
The order of magnitude of improvement in economics is what is necessary to compete with fiber or terrestrial services. You couple that with standardized low-cost consumer equipment and all of sudden you have a pretty compelling offering.
- What are major challenges:
- Negative perception in the marketplace of broadband offering i.e. lack of awareness partly because of price and partly because there is not enough capacity available today for the existing providers to get super aggressive from a market perspective.
- Learning lessons from the past i.e. becoming more realistically cautious with incremental implementation approach for provision of satellite – based two-way broadband.
- The cost factor. Costs need to come down. We need achievable low price point. With the advent of one or two operators launching major initiative requiring large scale ka-band CPE and GMPCS production, this should effectively improve.
- Encouraging a healthy growth driver:
Satellite broadband is certainly an important growth driver for major satellite operators. However, a healthy enterprise services growth for the next few years predates mass market of satellite broadband. To sustain this growth, major operators need to install broadband two-way hubs covering a large part of their satellite fleet connectivity around the world.
- Doing satellite business to succeed in Nigeria:
Experience has shown that the business people who succeed in Nigeria are those who have tangible prospects, not those with high flying business plans. “Do not think about what satellites can do, and then look for customers. Instead, Look for people with communications issues, and ask how satellites can help!!”. Satellites can help Nigerians solve the problem of internet connectivity.
The key desirability of any good technology are:
- Allows customers to generate new revenue
- Enhance network performance
- Reduce operating cost
Today, ka-band has crossed the chasm from Risk to mainsteam; the ka-band evolution is not only underway in the space segment but also on the ground as manufacturers and developers race to produce technology that fully leverage the high performance bandwidth.
The ka-band service means one is always connected. So what makes an ISP better than others?
- Efficient and reliable service.
- Internet speed, reasonable and competitive pricing and packages to choose from
- Mobility and high uptime.
On mobility, the customers need to have:
- The connectivity for browsing within coverage areas
- Seamless roaming
- Developing the satellite broadband business for critical mass
Even the uptake of terrestrial cellular phones are not closing Africa’s digital divide. This is because internet penetration is still low. African countries as a whole and Nigeria in particular have the terrain, geography, tradition, history and politics that requires internet penetration with interactive broadband applications through the use of global mobile personal communications by satellite (GMPCS) to truly drive and close the digital divide. Thus we need to facilitate rapid expansion of the use of GMPCS for internet applications and services using IP technologies.
Ka-band services are targeted to densely populated areas, which are real market for these services.
The challenge is really to get the critical mass of subscribers as broadband is becoming a mass market product. The dynamics seems to be in favour of satellite operators.
The satellite – based companies are part of a broader trend in the corporate sector in Nigeria. They want the best equipment available and they want to have it all tied together using the most reliable and highest quality satellite feeds in the region.
Industry officials and investors both are far sarvier about the technologies and business approaches today as a result of the difficulties of the past years.
A smarter industry combined with a better-developed user community for broadband could help satellite broadband operators make their marks in the months ahead in Nigeria.
In terms of deployment of ka-band satellites, the positive characteristics are:
- Use of smaller antennas
- Operate with higher power
- Operate in less congested frequency bands where you don’t have to share with terrestrial services.
- With satellite broadband via ka-band it is possible to have a series of smaller spotbeams, reuse the same frequencies and therefore have more capacity per satellite which if and only if, you use all the capacity results in a lower cost per subscriber.
As major service providers rolls out their services all eyes on the satellite industry will be on how quickly it can build a profitable business with prices comparable to terrestrial and fiber offerings. With lower cost of equipment, as well as broadband now being accepted medium, there really can be no excuse to profitable business. Rolled out broadband success could provide the impetus for other operators.
As broadband becomes mass market, the time may finally be right for ka-band satellites to become a key part of the equation for satellite operation within the African region and in particular Nigeria.
In the United State since 2001, satellite has been accepted as a viable medium for IP access by businesses, leading the rest down the path of satellite. Broadcasters started putting broadband overlays on their networks in 2002. Outside U.S.A. India and China are good broadband markets due to their changing regulatory regimes. We expect that in the next few months, satellite-based internet will transform into booming broadband business services. We expect the growth rate will pick up more than before because the cost of user terminal is dropping and demand for high-speed internet access is growing. What is quite clear, though, is that satellite communications have emerged from a relatively Limited niche technology to a mainstream service providing cost-effective IP-based broadband point – to – multipoint solutions.
In all, we must have in mind that the space & satellite industry has slowly, surely and with its usual lack of flair gone to the “next level” universally. We are olive branches with on-board processing transponders and switching technology that the UN commission for digital development has in mind when it reports that broadband will be and should be a basic name digital right. We have our own innovators. We have stars on the satellite field that are moving quickly in constellations (and without flair) having been crowned the queen of the future, enabling full 5G system which includes: Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB); Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLCs); and Massive Machine type communications (mMTCs)
But in the final analysis, why is satellite an effective medium for Africa and Nigeria in particular?
- Can be rolled out easily without environmental disturbances and rapidly, and offer attractive costing
- Offer ubiquitous coverage meaning that no matter where you are on the continent or the earth you can have access to satellite communication
- Can be positioned to cover high and low density areas at cheaper cost
- With the advent of Ka-band, high density coverage and mass market with satellite technology is now growing fast.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding telecommunications infrastructure across the country, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Executive Order, which criminalises the vandalism, theft or obstruction of critical national infrastructure.
The Commission noted that the enforcement drive is aimed at curbing the growing incidence of sabotage at telecom sites, which continues to degrade the quality of network services nationwide.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Executive of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, head of Public Affairs at the NCC, reaffirmed the Commission’s resolve to act.
She stated, “President Tinubu signed the Executive Order on 24th June 2024, declaring telecom infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII). The NCC is now mandated to implement this order fully, and anyone found tampering with these facilities will face the full weight of the law.”
Mrs Ukoha, who represented Dr Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman and chief executive officer, added that the NCC has launched a nationwide awareness campaign to sensitise the public about the significance of protecting critical national infrastructure, including telecom, energy and transport facilities.
Expressing concern over rampant damage, she said, “The destruction of fibre cables, theft of generators and fuel, and removal of key components from telecom base stations have become all too common. These acts directly affect the quality of service that millions of Nigerians depend on.”
She identified three major challenges undermining telecom service delivery:
Vandalism and Theft: “We are witnessing frequent attacks on telecom sites. These lead to service outages and cost operators billions in repairs.”
Restricted Site Access: “Operators face obstruction from local communities, touts and even some government officials who demand levies, making it difficult to access sites for maintenance and refuelling.”
Road Construction Damage: “Ongoing road projects often result in accidental damage to underground fibre cables, further compounding the situation.”
Responding to public complaints about fast-depleting data, Mrs Ukoha clarified that “mobile network operators do not steal users’ data. What many people experience is due to automatic app updates, background processes, and hotspots being shared unknowingly.”
She advised users to be proactive: “We encourage consumers to review their phone settings, limit background data, turn off auto-play videos, and regularly change hotspot passwords.”
Commending the media, she added, “Journalists play a vital role in educating the public. We appreciate your efforts and urge continued partnership in disseminating accurate, impactful information.”
She also revealed the Commission’s drive to improve digital inclusion: “The NCC is committed to supporting underserved communities with affordable internet access and has commenced specialised training for journalists, particularly senior editors in Lagos and Abuja.”
Mrs Ukoha emphasised collaboration with government agencies to reduce infrastructure damage: “As construction projects expand nationwide, we must work together to prevent unnecessary damage to telecom assets.”
Also speaking, Mallam Yakubu Musa, head, Corporate Communications, NCC, reinforced the importance of the media in the telecom ecosystem.
He said, “Our partnership with the press is key to promoting transparency, building consumer trust, and supporting regulatory compliance.”
In her remarks, Comrade Grace Ike, chairman, NUJ FCT, commended the NCC’s regulatory efforts and expressed interest in deeper collaboration.
She stated, “We look forward to partnering with the NCC on media training, expanding internet access for journalists, and enhancing public awareness. We also seek your support for our forthcoming Press Week and capacity-building programmes.”
She continued, “The NUJ recognises the importance of digital tools in journalism. Equipping media professionals with access and knowledge will strengthen democratic engagement and promote good governance.”
The NUJ delegation, comprising key executives and media team members, reiterated its commitment to working closely with the NCC to promote national development.
This enforcement initiative—anchored on President Tinubu’s July 2024 Executive Order—provides a solid legal framework for protecting vital telecom infrastructure and ensuring uninterrupted communication services.
Telecom
Africa’s Lawmakers Commit to Strengthening AI, Digital Health and Smart Manufacturing Frameworks
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and the African Population Health Research Center (APHRC), in collaboration with the GSMA, have concluded the first Africa Digital Parliamentary Summit focused on building legislative capacity in Artificial Intelligence (AI), data protection, digital health and smart manufacturing, in a bid to promote evidence-based policy-making for Africa’s digital future.
The three-day Summit, held from 9-11 July in Lusaka, convened over 20 Members of Parliament from the Pan-African Parliament Committees on Transport, Industry, Communications, Energy, Science and Technology, and Health, Labour and Social Affairs and was opened by the Zambian Minister of Technology and Science, Honourable Felix Mutati. Strategic partners in attendance included AUDA-NEPAD, Africa CDC, ECOSOCC, and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).
This concluded with the publication of the Lusaka Declaration outlining shared priorities and next steps for ensuring Africa’s digital transformation is inclusive, responsible and grounded in evidence-based policy.
The Lusaka Declaration recognised the vital role of Members of Parliament in shaping laws and policies that drive the continent’s development. The Digital Parliamentary Summit offered a timely platform to enhance the knowledge and capacity of Parliamentarians on critical aspects of digital transformation.
A key highlight of the Summit was the consideration and discussion with Parliamentarians on the draft Africa Digital Health and Smart Manufacturing reports developed by APHRC and the GSMA.
Both reports will be submitted to the Plenary of the PAP when Parliamentarians of the 55 member states of the African Union meet in Midrand later this month on the occasion of the 5th Ordinary Session of the 6th Legislature of the Pan-African Parliament.
Honourable Behdja Mokrani, Chairperson of the Pan-African Parliament Committee on Transport, Industry, Communications, Energy, Science and Technology said “Against the backdrop of global economic uncertainties and the accelerating pace of technological disruption, this Summit has highlighted the critical need to equip African legislators with the foresight and capabilities required to navigate the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The capacity-building component of the Summit, along with the presentation of the Africa Digital Health and Smart Manufacturing Reports by APHRC and GSMA, reinforced the importance of African policymakers acquiring the relevant skills to address policy issues related to digital transformation – particularly in the areas of Digital Health and Smart Manufacturing – in alignment with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Anthony Mveyange, Director of Programs, Synergy, African Population Health Research Center adds “At APHRC, we firmly believe that digital health is a transformative force, holding immense potential for Africa to ‘leapfrog’ traditional development pathways.
This Summit powerfully demonstrates how, by leveraging AI alongside advancements in digital health and smart manufacturing, we can accelerate socio-economic progress and foster deeper continental integration, directly aligning with the ambitious goals of the African Union’s Agenda.”
Key themes explored during the Summit included:
- The potential of AI-driven digital health to accelerate universal health coverage through better data integration and cross-border information exchange
- The role of smart manufacturing in enhancing industrial resilience and job creation through automation and IoT
- The need for harmonised, Africa-led data governance frameworks to ensure responsible AI development and protect privacy and human rights
“AI, digital health, and smart manufacturing have the potential to transform Africa’s economies and improve lives – but unlocking that potential requires the right policy environment.
“This Summit is an important step in equipping lawmakers with the tools to shape secure, inclusive and future-ready digital economies” said Kenechi Okeleke, Senior Director, Regional, Social and Policy Research, GSMA.
Participants reaffirmed their commitment to advancing digital transformation through coordinated reforms, including:
- Strengthening STEM education and digital literacy among policymakers
- Embedding ICT training in public service development
- Establishing cross-sector collaboration between the health, trade and ICT sectors
- Creating enabling conditions for investment in advanced connectivity infrastructure
Draft findings presented during the Summit estimate that Africa’s digital health market could reach $6.5 billion by 2030 under an optimistic scenario, highlighting the urgent need for policy alignment to maximise impact and drive inclusive growth.
The Summit also set out a roadmap for ongoing engagement between the Pan-African Parliament, APHRC and the GSMA, including the establishment of ‘Evidence-to-Policy’ resource units, sustained capacity-building efforts, and regional forums to harmonise legislation on AI, digital health, and data governance across Africa.
Kashifu Inuwa, director general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has called on business leaders to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) as a collaborative partner in driving innovation and economic growth, rather than viewing it as a threat to human jobs.
Speaking during a high-level panel session titled “Builders of the New Nigeria – Stories of Scale, Grit, and Innovation” at the BusinessDay CEO Forum Nigeria, held in Lagos, Inuwa challenged the conventional notion of AI as merely an automation tool, and encouraged CEOs and business leaders to view AI as a thought partner and a strategic ally in generating innovative ideas, discovering new business models, and creating competitive advantages in a rapidly evolving global economy.
“I see artificial intelligence not just as a tool, but as a thought partner,” he said, urging business leaders to integrate AI into their operations not as a replacement for human input, but as a collaborator that can unlock new levels of productivity and creativity.
He explained that while AI can outperform humans in certain tasks, its primary function should not be seen as replacing human workers.
Instead, it is poised to take over specific processes and skills currently relied upon to accomplish routine tasks. This shift, according to him, requires business leaders to reposition themselves at the center of this technological evolution.
“The key is to position yourself at the center of this collaboration. Yes, AI can outperform humans in many tasks, but it will not replace you or me. What AI will replace are the skills and processes we rely on today to perform our work.”
Inuwa emphasised the need for CEOs and decision-makers to proactively redefine their roles in an AI-driven world by evolving their capabilities to work effectively alongside intelligent systems.
He highlighted the importance of learning how to collaborate with AI, rather than competing against it, as the surest way to remain relevant and successful in the digital age.
To get the best out of AI, Inuwa advised that businesses should approach AI systems by assigning them specific roles or personas based on the context of their usage. Whether as a virtual lawyer, doctor, co-founder, or advisor, he said assigning a clear role to AI makes its interaction with humans more purposeful and productive.
Despite his optimism about AI’s potential, Inuwa cautioned that AI systems must be approached with vigilance. He warned business leaders not to assume AI is always accurate or ethical by default, stating that AI should always be treated as the “worst version” of itself until it proves otherwise.
“This is where government’s role becomes critical. As regulators, we need to create policy labs where we can test AI technologies in safe, controlled environments. We must evaluate them thoroughly to ensure they are safe, ethical, and reliable,” he added.
He noted that NITDA has adopted a progressive regulatory approach centered on collaboration, experimentation, and co-creation. Rather than imposing restrictive regulations out of fear or uncertainty, the agency works hand-in-hand with innovators, startups, and the private sector to experiment with emerging technologies like AI.
According to Inuwa, the insights gained from such collaborative initiatives help government agencies like NITDA establish clear, evidence-based benchmarks and policies that both support innovation and safeguard public interests.
“This is our approach to regulation. Rather than rushing to regulate based on fear, we collaborate with the private sector to experiment, learn, and build together.
“We co-create solutions, then use the lessons from these experiments to establish clear benchmarks that will inform future frameworks, guidelines, and regulations,” he added.
Inuwa said, “Nigeria is setting a precedent for balancing technological innovation with societal responsibility, enabling businesses to thrive while ensuring that new technologies benefit the broader society.”
“Our aim is to create an environment where businesses can innovate responsibly, while ensuring society as a whole benefit from these new technologies,” he concluded.
The BusinessDay CEO Forum Nigeria attracted an influential audience of business executives, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and thought leaders from across the country. The event served as a platform for high-impact conversations on scaling businesses, building resilience, and driving sustainable innovation in Nigeria’s challenging economic climate.
Throughout the session, panelists shared personal stories of perseverance, discussed strategies for business growth, and explored how technologies like AI, digital payments, and data analytics are shaping Nigeria’s future economy.
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