Inmarsat’s high-speed Global Xpress broadband service has been deployed in Sierra Leonne to provide a resilient, seamless connectivity solution for BBC Media Action’s programme of work in the country.
The UK British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) international development charity uses the power of media and communications around the world to help reduce global poverty and support people to understand their rights.
In Sierra Leone, the charity produces informative TV, radio, and digital content, in partnership with local broadcasters and journalists, to tackle some of the country’s most fundamental development challenges.
Sierra Leone’s younger generation is a key target audience for the charity, making its growing social media activity a priority. BBC Media Action has the largest Facebook following in Sierra Leone with over 500,000 page likes and has built a strong relationship with its following.
With connectivity at the heart of all of its work, BBC Media Action’s dependence on the country’s telecommunications infrastructure has presented a number of logistical and operational challenges – with disruption to service and slow network speeds causing frequent issues.
As a corporate charity partner to the organisation, Inmarsat set up a Global Xpress terminal and service plan in Sierra Leone to give users access to high-speed connectivity wherever they are to enable operational resilience and a more reliable internet connection.
Being less susceptible to blackouts and slow network speeds, the charity can get on with the job of conducting its life-saving work, such as encouraging prevention, testing and treatment of malaria, with fewer frustrating delays.
George Ferguson, Country Director, Sierra Leone at BBC Media Action said: “We create and broadcast content which helps improve people’s lives in Sierra Leone. Infrastructure support such as that provided by the Inmarsat charity partnership helps us to deliver our vital, often life-saving objectives.“
Read the full case study here: BBC Media Action – Sierra Leone
