A satellite launch in Iran. (PHOTO | SEPAH NEWS | AFP)

The United Nations International Telecommunication Union has allotted a satellite orbit for South Sudan in the space – making it possible for the country to launch a satellite system in the future, an official said.

Napoleon Adok Gai, Director-General of National Communication Authority, said the decision was made during the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 in Dubai on Thursday.

Adok said WRC passed resolution 559 to allot the satellite orbit for South Sudan’s future meteorological and communication use.

According to him, the resolution will now pave the way for South Sudan to have its own satellite orbiting the earth.

He further said this can enable the country to invest in space science in regard to environmental and agricultural studies on terrain changes and flooding.

“This resolution is in the interest of South Sudan because it is where South Sudan is allotted a satellite orbit in space for us to be able to launch satellites in the future and for satellite services for broadcasting and telecommunication,” Adok said.

“This is a historical moment for South Sudan because many African countries that have been allocated the same services in the past have lost them, and they are struggling to recover for us in South Sudan this is our first location.”

There are approximately 1,500 active satellites currently orbiting the Earth and the satellite technology is used for television and radio broadcasting, telephone calls, GPS navigation, mapping, weather forecasting and other functions.

DG Adok said if South Sudan launches its own satellite in space in the future, it will enable the country to invest in space science.

“The satellite services are necessary for us to cover all corners of our country and do environment studies and surveys.”

“This is to look also into environmental issues like floods, terrain changes, and agriculture studies and because our country is land locked and we have no access to the sea.”

“Satellites is a must for us to utilize. As you have seen today, many telecommunication services in our country are extremely expensive because they are using foreign satellite.”

“So, in future when we have our satellite launched, we will be able to reduce such cost and improve our communications system.”

Uganda successfully launched its first ever satellite into the international space station, on November 7, 2023, following its construction by three Ugandan and Japanese engineers under a multinational satellite design programme.

According to the country’s Ministry of Science and Technology, the PearlAfricaSat-1 is designed to provide research and observation data that will provide solutions in weather forecast, land, water bodies, mineral mapping and agriculture monitoring.

Others are disaster prevention, infrastructure planning and boarder security.