Successful AV Upgrade at the Free State Legislature with Support from Local Team
We are proud to have recently played a key role in the successful AV upgrade at the Free State Legislature in Bloemfontein, supporting Digital Voice Processing (DVP), based in Durban. The project was led by Mr Peter Benson of DVP, who approached us to serve as their local contact and on-site support partner for this high-profile installation.

Working within a heritage building presented both challenges and unique opportunities. Much of the AV infrastructure—including cable runs at heights of up to 8 metres and critical connections beneath a 125-year-old floor—required careful coordination and strict compliance with heritage regulations. Every cable route, drill point, and site modification had to be cleared in advance with the building’s curators, ensuring full respect for the site's historical significance.

Our primary responsibility centred on the video matrix and distribution system. The installation included four main video inputs, comprising camera feeds from the Bosch DICENTIS conferencing system alongside various camera and PC sources. These were distributed to multiple display points: four screens within the chamber itself, and an additional feed to a media room located approximately 120 metres away from the control room.

Thanks to the reliability of Extron and Alphatech hardware, the complex signal switching and long-distance transmission were executed seamlessly. At the heart of the system is the Bosch DICENTIS paperless conferencing solution, installed by DVP, complete with four fully integrated PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras. This setup ensures professional-grade video tracking and a highly functional, modern conferencing environment.

This upgrade positions the Free State Legislature as a future-ready institution—equipped to facilitate robust debate, public transparency, and efficient governance on the pressing issues facing the province today.

 
Bosch DICENTIS Paperless Conferencing System for Provincial Legislatures

The Bosch DICENTIS paperless conferencing system offers a highly advanced, secure, and scalable platform tailored to the operational needs of provincial legislatures. Purpose-built to support structured debate, formal procedures, and public accountability, DICENTIS delivers exceptional clarity, control, and efficiency in a digital-first parliamentary environment.

Built on the OMNEO media networking architecture, the system uses standard IP and Dante™ protocols, ensuring seamless integration with IT infrastructure while maintaining full compliance with data protection requirements. Designed to promote transparency and reduce administrative overhead, the DICENTIS platform allows Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs) to access agendas, legislation, and briefing documents directly via touchscreen-enabled devices—eliminating paper waste and streamlining session preparation.

Each conference unit features a high-resolution capacitive display, intuitive navigation, integrated loudspeaker, and dual headphone outputs. The system includes support for NFC card or biometric identification, electronic voting, multilingual interpretation, and configurable speech timers—essential tools for maintaining order and inclusivity in legislative proceedings.

A standout feature for plenary sessions is the integration of Bosch HD PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras. These intelligent cameras automatically follow the active speaker based on microphone input, providing smooth HD video transitions, 30x optical zoom, and accurate speaker framing. This functionality supports live broadcast, in-chamber display, and recording for archival or public access purposes.

The DICENTIS Control Software enables procedural management, speaker queueing, vote handling, and camera control from a centralised interface. Its secure design includes AES-128 encryption, ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive communications and decisions.

Ideal for provincial legislatures seeking a modern, reliable conferencing solution, the Bosch DICENTIS system enhances governance through digital transformation—delivering professional-grade audiovisual integration, efficient document handling, and the procedural rigour required for effective democratic processes.