[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]Smartmatic, the world’s leading voting technology and services provider, has been awarded a contract by Brazil´s Superior Electoral Court (TSE), to guarantee data and voice communications in the 15 most isolated states during the general elections to be held in October.

The Smartmatic-led consortium -Smartitec- will be deploying 1,424 Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) SABRE satellite terminals to help the TSE conduct the elections. Thanks to their portability and ease of operation, these devices are crucial to reach voters who live in rural areas.

“Enfranchising voters in the most remote areas of the fifth largest country of the planet is the kind of project that gives a special meaning to what Smartmatic does. We are thrilled to participate again in a Brazilian election working alongside one of the most forward-looking electoral commissions in the world”, said Antonio Mugica, CEO for Smartmatic.

Having already successfully provided portable terminals for elections in Argentina, Brazil and the Philippines, Smartmatic is today the biggest single owner of BGAN terminals and antennas in the world.

For decades, Brazil has been a frontrunner in election modernization. In 1996 it began using electronic voting machines to enhance efficiency and transparency. Today, its automated election platform encompasses biometric authentication, voting, transmission, consolidation, awarding and publication of results.

Smartmatic will be providing a complete suite of services to facilitate communications. Services to be rendered include: configuration and deployment of the BGAN terminals; training of the appointed TSE instructors; maintenance of the equipment; creation of a Call Center via an “800” number, to provide technical support.