Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chinese low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite operator GalaxySpace to deploy direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity across the country by the end of 2025. This collaboration will integrate GalaxySpace’s LEO satellite constellation into Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure, enabling smartphones and laptops to connect directly to satellites, expanding mobile coverage beyond terrestrial network limits.
The MoU also includes technology transfer initiatives, joint research and development labs, and co-production of a CubeSat by Nigerian engineers, advancing Nigeria’s domestic space technology capabilities. NASRDA Director-General Dr. Matthew Adepoju emphasized the importance of developing local technology manufacturing to reduce dependency on imports.
GalaxySpace currently operates a test constellation of seven LEO satellites and plans to expand its “Mini-Spider” constellation to nearly 1,000 satellites. The company has established partnerships in several countries including Thailand, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Malaysia, and recently integrated its LEO connectivity with Hong Kong’s PCCW Global, extending reach to over 3,000 cities worldwide.
