US embassy cable - 01ABUJA951

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