SES And Ceni Partner on Satellite Network for Burkina Faso’s elections

Details: James Barton; Category: Satellite Networks; 03 December 2015; 4819 views

Satellite operator SES S.A. partnered with Burkina Faso’s electoral body CENI (Commission Électorale Nationale Indépendante) to enable secure digital transmission of the country’s recent electoral results.

Electoral district offices across Burkina Faso were connected to the central CENI office in Ouagadougou utilising SES Techcom Services’ Astra Connect VSAT terminals (SES Techcom Services is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SES). The communications platform deployed ASTRA 2G capacity at 28.2 degrees East, being managed and monitored by SES Techcom Services. In addition, Voice over IP (VoIP) telephone communication was provided at each deployed site to enable constant contact and coordination with the headquarters in the capital.

Managing Director of SES Techcom Services Gerhard Bethscheider said, “Utilising our Astra Connect solution, voters’ choices, even from isolated or remote regions, can be collated and transferred across the country, ensuring all voters’ voices are heard.”

Between the electoral district offices and CENI headquarters in Ouagadougou, satellite capacity enabled transportation of electoral data, allowing CENI to disseminate election results within a week of the voting date.

“SES Techcom Services’ satellite broadband solution ensures a high degree of reliability in collecting voters’ choices,” said President of CENI Barthélemy Kere. “Through greater transparency and improved collation of results, we are able to achieve greater political stability and further develop democracy in Burkina Faso.”