Global communications provider IEC Telecom has unveiled a new portfolio of satellite-powered tracking solutions designed to enhance safety and coordination for humanitarian operations across Africa and beyond. The announcement came during AIDEX 2025, the world’s leading humanitarian aid and disaster relief event.
With global dependence on humanitarian assistance rising sharply, and nearly 300 million people projected to need aid in 2024, the safety of field workers has become a growing concern. According to the Aid Worker Security Report 2025, nearly 230 humanitarian workers lost their lives in the first half of 2025 alone — the highest toll recorded in decades.
IEC Telecom’s new Traksat-powered tracking system, built around Garmin’s GPSMAP H1i Plus handheld device, offers field teams reliable connectivity beyond cellular coverage. The device enables live location sharing, multimedia exchange, and real-time SOS alerts via the Iridium® satellite network, ensuring that aid missions remain connected even in the most remote or conflict-prone areas.
“IEC Telecom has been serving the humanitarian sector for over thirty years, giving us first-hand insight into the harsh working conditions and specific requirements of aid organisations,” said Gwenael Loheac, President, Europe and West Africa, IEC Telecom Group. “Our new tracking portfolio is designed to ensure coordinated action and protect personnel wherever they operate.”
The Traksat platform allows organisations to centrally manage their teams, set geofencing alerts, implement mission checklists, and generate advanced operational reports. It also offers scalability and post-paid billing options, allowing humanitarian agencies to adjust usage flexibly without long-term commitments.
The launch aligns with the sector’s ongoing localisation shift, as aid agencies increasingly depend on local NGOs amid funding cuts. With dispersed teams working in volatile regions, real-time visibility and secure communications have become indispensable to ensuring both mission efficiency and staff safety.
IEC Telecom’s latest innovations underscore the critical role of digital connectivity in protecting humanitarian workers and improving response coordination in crises worldwide.
