The joint Satellite Based Augmentation System flight demonstration carried out early this year by NIGCOMSAT Ltd and Thales Alenia Space (TAS) has again been brought to the fore.

Both parties have signed a renewed joint venture agreement in far away Toulouse, France for the development of Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS).

In a statement, NIGCOMSAT Ltd said the Joint Venture Agreement, will provide access to the payload on NigComSat-1R to Thales Alenia Space for the SBAS signal in Africa.

The Managing Director, NIGCOMSAT Ltd, Engr. Tukur Mohammed Lawal who was elated on this agreement, said it has opened another chapter of business opportunity for NIGCOMSAT Ltd,

According to Dr Lawal, NIGCOMSAT called on stakeholders in the aviation and non-aviation sector in the country and Africa at large to optimize this opportunity for the growth of economy in the continent.

Engr. Lawal recalled that NIGCOMSAT Ltd has demonstrated a flight using Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA’s) King 350i aircraft with ANGA (Augmented Navigation for Africa) Signal-in-Space (SIS), provided via NigComSat 1R which took place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The event, the statement said was witnessed by a contingent from Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar, EC DG-DEFIS, Representatives of AON , AFON, SatNAv Africa JPO, Representatives from Ministries, Departments and Agencies including Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and prominent aviation stakeholders from 54 African countries among others.

Also contributing, the Project Manager, SBAS Dr. Lasisi Salami Lawal stated that with the real SBAS flight demonstration carried out within Nigerian airspace,  ‘we were able to witness a high level of precision on guiding the aircraft laterally in take-off, aligning on the takeoff track and also on initial climb and also on inbound track approach to the airport for landing’ he said

The Statement hinted that the SBAS is an aviation-grade safety of life (SoL) satellite based navigation enabling reliability with integrity  as well as high accuracy in positioning.

According to Dr. Lasisi, the technology is a ‘game changer” for aviation improving flight safety and efficiency while ensuring better user experience as a means of navigation decreasing CO2 emission with fuel consumption reduction.

Dr. Lasisi, said it will also contribute effectively in the non-aviation sector applications such as precision Agriculture, Land and Maritime Transport, inland waterways navigation, Rail Safety, Oil and Gas, Drone navigation, Mapping/Cadastral Survey and Mass Market Applications in Location Based Services (LBS), and Secured Time Transfer.

Others he said are synchronization in smart power transmission & distribution systems, telecommunications system networks especially 5G networks that requires precision in microseconds timing beyond what GNSS networks can offer.

The statement also said that Thales Alenia Space is a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), stressing that Thales Alenia Space also teamed up with Telespazio to form the parent companies’ Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of services, adding that it has a combined 40 years expenditure with unique diversity, talents and cultures.