NigComSat is de-orbited

The Nigerian federal government says the country's pioneer NigComSat-1satellite is damaged beyond repair and has been manoeuvred to the parking orbit, states Newswatch.

Ahmed Rufa'i, MD of Nigerian Communications Satellite, confirmed the loss of the facility at a press conference in Abuja. He said problems with the satellite began eight months ago when half of the power was lost from the south solar array due to a single event offset, leaving the north solar array as the only source of power.

A similar event occurred on the North Solar panel on 9 November. Rufa'i explains all efforts to recover the power supply of the solar panels failed and the satellite was de-orbited to avoid total loss of power and loss of control, which could result in damage to other satellites in orbit or even to aircraft in flight.

Nasa, the US Agency for International Development, and its international partners have opened Servir-Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, says Satnews.

The information network will integrate the satellite resources of the US and other countries into a Web-based Earth information system.

This effort is expected to put previously inaccessible information into the hands of local scientists, government leaders and communities to help address concerns related to natural disasters, disease outbreaks, biodiversity and climate change.

Malawi Telecommunications is intensifying efforts to speed up the laying of underground fibre-optic cables throughout the country with a view to boost free flow of information, reports IT News Africa.

Malawi is keen to ensure it is easy to connect and inter-link with the world as far as IT is concerned, and also to enable the country to compete with the rest of the continent and the world at large.

It is estimated that a total of $30 million would be required for the ambitious project in Malawi in order to replace the old system of very small aperture technology.