Algeria and Nigeria aim to expand satcoms capabilities

Details: Vaughan O'Grady; Category: Satellite Networks; 03 February 2026; 7999 views

The growing focus on satellite communications in Africa has been underlined by a recent launch announcement from Algeria and satellite purchase news from Nigeria.

Algeria announced this week that it had placed the Alsat-3B satellite into orbit, just two weeks after the launch of Alsat-3A.

Developed through cooperation between the Algerian Space Agency (ASAL) and China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Alsat-3B strengthens the national satellite constellation, which already includes Alsat-1B, 1N, 2A, 2B and 3A. The launch took place on 31 January from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China.

The satellite delivers high-resolution imagery used for national mapping, digital elevation models and a range of strategic applications, including natural resource management, disaster prevention and environmental monitoring.

There’s also a sovereignty angle: the satellite will, it is evidently hoped, reduce reliance on foreign data and strengthen state autonomy in geospatial intelligence. The Alsat-3 programme is part of the country’s National Space Programme, which aims to build domestic capabilities in geointelligence and satellite communications.

The programme is also designed to strengthen local skills, as well as opening new prospects for stronger regional cooperation, enabling African countries to better use geospatial data for food security, resource management and territorial planning.

This news follows last week’s announcement that Nigeria is pressing ahead with plans to buy two new telecommunications satellites to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure.

The two new satellites are expected to replace NigComSat-1R, Nigeria’s only communications satellite, which has been in operation since December 2011. NigComSat-1R was due to reach the end of its service life in 2026, but its operations have been extended until 2028.