BAGUIO CITY –More than sixty percent of the identified 6,300 polling precincts in the different parts of the Cordillera have weak communication signals that could affect the transition of election results in the precinct level to the centralized canvassing system, an official of the Smartmatic said here recently.
Adelino Tabangin, Smartmatic regional coordinator, said the automated election system (AES) provided were able to pinpoint the areas with problematic signals and the appropriate remedial measures have already been put in place to ensure the smooth transmission of data results from the precinct level.
“We already ensured the availability of our broadband geographical area network (BGAN) to aid the weak signals that will make sure of the speedy transmission of the election results from the precinct level to the next stage which is the centralized canvassing system in both the city and municipal levels,” Tabanging stressed.
However, he refused to divulge the identified problematic areas for security reasons but assured the electorate that a sufficient supply of BGANs had been guaranteed so as not to affect the transmission of election results that would cast doubts on the sanctity of the cast ballots.
Tabangin revealed that for every 3 vote counting machines, Smartmatic has made available 1 BGAN that will be used to improve the signals for eventual transmission of election results.
In cases where the polling precincts are distant from each other, Tabangin revealed that Smartmatic has made sure that there will be 1 BGAN for every 1 Vote counting machine.
Tabangin said the weak signals in remote villages of the region is primarily due to the mountainous terrain that impede the signals from penetrating the remotest parts of the region, thus, the need for the use of state-of-the-art communication systems to boost the signals and guarantee the smooth transmission of election results.
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BGAN devices are portable satellite antennas that can operate from the most remote locations.
Based on Tabangin’s pronouncement, at least 3,816 precincts in the region are within
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