The New Age
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
According to MTN, the free number is a joint initiative between the company and Refugees United, a nongovernmental organisation dealing with refugees, as well as cellphone company Ericsson.
The companies chose yesterday’s World Refugee Day as an opportune time to launch the service, which they said they hoped would connect refugees with their families across the continent.
But this could easily be seen as part of MTN’s goal to win the hearts and minds of Africans in line with the company’s expansion plans on the continent.
Christopher Mikkelsen of Refugees United said his organisation’s main goal was to help refugees, especially those searching for loved ones, and hoped the partnership would help them reconnect many separated families across Africa.
Christian de Faria of MTN said the project demonstrated the company’s willingness to use its power for worthy causes.
Lars Linden, head of Ericsson sub-Saharan Africa, said: “We are very proud to be a part of this. The focus of innovation at Ericsson is to change people’s lives for the better and this is a clear demonstration of that.”
MTN will host and offer the free mobile service on its networks across the continent while the UN High Commission for Refugees will help implement the project in refugee camps in selected countries.
Source: The New Age