Intelsat, an operator of integrated satellite and terrestrial networks, has received the Africa Sustainable Futures Award in the "Digital Infrastructure" category from the Financial Times and the World Bank Group's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency.

This, according to the business, highlights Intelsat's most recent innovative satellite broadband project in Burkina Faso, which significantly enhanced the country's telecoms resilience.

Intelsat pointed out that terrestrial telecom infrastructure can be unstable and vulnerable to natural and man-made disasters.

To this end, Burkina Faso had made major government investments in vast fiber networks, but this infrastructure needed to be reinforced and expanded in order to mitigate the impact of events that could disrupt connectivity and damage daily life and business operations.

In response to this challenge, Intelsat said it collaborated with local in-country partners to design and implement satellite network solution.

This initiative, according to the company, maintained ongoing coverage, even in the most distant and difficult places, establishing more connectivity in weeks and maintaining it long term.

Intelsat's team also trained local people, allowing them to run the satellite network autonomously, the company said

Also, Intelsat said by using its experience and resources, it has produced a scalable solution that answers Burkina Faso's unique connectivity challenges.

It added: “This project not only underpins vital communication links but also improves the quality of life for countless individuals.”

Rhys Morgan, regional vice president, EMEA, Media and Networks at Intelsat, commented: “We look forward to continuing our work in Burkina Faso and other regions in need of resilient digital infrastructure.”