...Burkina Faso, enabling flexible satellite connectivity for the upcoming municipal and legislative elections set to take place on December 2, 2012. The equipment will facilitate ‘always on’ connectivity between 45 remote electoral district offices which serve as the hubs for 14,698 polling stations across the West African country and the central election office in the capital, Ouagadougou. The system will be used for video conferencing and surveillance, Internet access and fast and secure communication of ballots.
Photos, courtesy of Newtec, show the installations of SATCOM equipment in Burkina Faso
“It is an honor for our technology to be used to facilitate the electoral process in Burkina Faso,” said Serge Van Herck, CEO of Newtec. “Satellite is the most affordable communication technology with seamless coverage of the whole country. Our equipment will provide essential connectivity between the remote polling sites, allowing for fast, efficient and secure communication between provinces and CENI’s central office. It will also be available for government-led activities across the country after the elections.”
As part of Newtec’s government program to supply satellite equipment technologies and solutions for different applications, they deliver two-way broadband systems and IP VSAT modems to areas where no terrestrial broadband connection is available. This is used for elections, education and disaster recovery networks.
Earlier this year, Newtec announced it had successfully tested its new high speed Ka-band broadband technology for Europe’s most successful satellite broadband service, also provided by SES Broadband Services. Well over 100,000 Ku-band terminals have already been shipped.