Satellite units to ensure connectivity at polls

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to deploy about 7,000 Starlink satellite internet units to ensure seamless transmission of election results, particularly in areas with weak or limited telecom coverage. Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said these Starlink units will be allocated to regions identified as having either only one telco provider or none at all. "Starlink will provide around 200 megabits per second bandwidth, ensuring that election returns can be transmitted in real time," Garcia said. Garcia also addressed concerns regarding the security of these devices, warning potential thieves that tampering with or stealing Starlink units would be met with strict legal consequences. "This is a serious offense under the Revised Penal Code and election laws, with penalties ranging from one to six years in prison," he said. He also noted that if the base of the unit is stolen, it may still be traceable and rendered useless. With Starlink's integration, Garcia expects the election results to be transmitted at an unprecedented speed. He said the transmission process per precinct will take less than a minute once the votes are cast and counted. "By 8 p.m. on election day, we anticipate that all data from various precincts will have been sent to the consolidation systems," he said. He detailed the efficiency of the voting process, from ballot insertion, which takes about two seconds, to the verification and printing of election returns, which takes about five minutes per machine. The results will then be transmitted to various servers, including those of political parties and election watchdogs, within seconds. To bolster election transparency, Garcia said Comelec will distribute voter's information sheets nationwide by April. This document will contain the names of all national and local candidates, helping voters prepare before heading to the polling stations.