The Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) on Friday said it would partner with the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) to utilise its new Ka-band to boost internet accessibility in the rural areas.
Ka-band is part of the K-band of the microwave band of the electromagnetic spectrum released by NIGCOMSAT for its satellite to function properly.
Abimbola Alale, Managering Director of NIGCOMSAT, said that the new Ka-band would make financial transaction and internet network accessible at a lower cost.
She said the development was to ensure that people in the rural communities had access to internet connectivity, easy financial services, health insurance and other benefits that people in the urban areas enjoyed.
Alale said the new Ka-band inaugurated recently would be the satellite source that would be utilised by NIPOST, government, private and public stakeholders to achieve its aim.
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The MD said the agency had developed and rolled out other bands before now that were expensive for individuals in the country to access.
She said that this would make internet and financial transaction more affordable to the poor.
“Formerly other bands have been utilised; we have been using C-band and K-band but they were very expensive for individuals to get but they have been commercialised.
“All the agencies in the ministries are working with Galaxy backbone and we advise federal ministries and agencies to work with Galaxy back-bone and NIPOST to harness to the new Ka-band.
“The only band which we are yet to release is the L-band which is for navigation and it is a GPS based service which we are still working on.
“Every other commercial bands have been utilised,’’ she said.
She said NIGCOMSAT would work with other government agencies like the Central Bank of Nigeria, FirstBank of Nigeria; Ministry of Agriculture, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Internet Service Providers and other stakeholders.
“This project is a stakeholder project coming together to make sure that it works out; it is going to transform NIPOST to a modern one through digital financial services starting with 112 post offices across the country.
Alale said that the NIMC has said that on completion of this project, it would make it easy for people to get their National Identity Cards through the process.
“As I speak now, the Public Access Centre in Kubwa is open where people living there can access the internet at affordable cost.
Sola Bickersteth, the Managing Director, One Network, a network provider and an agent working with NIGCOMSAT and NIPOST, said the Ka-band satellite would enable youths to have job opportunities.
He said the people would have access to health insurance, agriculture loans, easy and cheap internet connectivity among others.
“We are collabourating with NIPOST to have the post offices equipped with enough trained staff; we anticipate that we need postal agents across the country and we will achieve it through NIPOST.
“The pilot location in Benue State has started to take the opportunity to access farmers’ loan. This new Ka-band will enable us to take the advantages to the next level,’’ he said.
(NAN)
