Satellite Licensing in Nigeria

UNCLAS ABUJA 000951 SIPDIS Dept for EB/CIP/SP MZACK/SLETT Commerce for NTIA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECPS ECON NI SUBJECT: Satellite Licensing in Nigeria Ref: State 69641 ¶1. EconOff met with Nigerian Communications Commission Special Assistant to the Chairman C.A. Ojobo on April 26 to discuss Intelsat and market access for satellite operators in Nigeria per reftel. According to Ojobo, the Nigerian government continues to support the privatization of Intelsat slated for July 18. ¶2. The GON does not allow commercial satellite operators access to the Nigerian market. NITEL, the state-owned telecommunications company, is the only commercial operator with an international gateway (for both voice and data). The exception to NITEL's international monopoly will be the three GSM licensees who, according to the license agreement, are permitted to negotiate service agreements with satellite service providers. However, Ojobo explained, any private, non-commercial, entity could apply for a license to transmit data via satellite. He said that the NCC evaluates each of these private applicants on its own merits. Ojobo stated that the licensee must agree to transmit only data, not voice, and the transmission must be from a single point to a single point, not a single point to multiple points (as would be the case with commercial services). Some exceptions are made for diplomatic missions who use V-SAT to transmit both data and voice. ¶3. Ojobo said that a draft telecommunications law, currently under review by the House Committee on Telecommunications, might change the regulations governing satellite licensing. He promised to provide EconOff with a copy of the draft legislation in two weeks time. Post will report on any changes that the pending legislation might codify. JETER