Communications as Enabler
We are using mobile communications to contribute to positive change in people’s lives.
Video: Telecommunications improves the lives of the Roma
The mobile phone has great potential for bringing positive contributions to peoples’ lives. Telenor believes that the mobile phone can help stimulate economic and societal development, bringing banking services to the unbanked, health-care services to even the most remote, and education to the masses.
Bringing the benefits of mobile communications to a wider audience is one of Telenor’s key objectives. We call this approach ‘Enable’. We encourage all of our Business Units to develop local Enable projects. Through strategic, communications-based projects Telenor, in cooperation with experienced partners, work to make positive contributions to society.
Better healthcare for Roma in Serbia
The transformative power of mobile technology is well illustrated by Telenor’s ‘Povezivanje’ (Enable) project in Serbia. Here Telenor Serbia, UNICEF Serbia and the Serbian Ministry of Health work together to bring vital information and access to health services to the Roma population in the country.
Through the Povezivanje project, some 75 Roma women have been trained to become health mediators. These women serve as the bridge between the official Serbian health system and the Roma communities. With the help of laptops, mobile phones, Internet, special software and training provided by Telenor, the mediators communicate better among themselves and with the Roma. For example, the mediators are able to provide critical health information, on such topics as vaccinations and prenatal care, via SMS to Roma families. Also, thanks to the database developed as part of the project, there are now reliable data on the Roma population, and the database is used by all state institutions.
Since the launch of the joint project in April 2010, Telenor has witnessed a steady increase in the use of mobile services and the improved communication between the mediators and Roma families.
Socio-economic impact of telecommunication
Telenor Group has commissioned studies on the socio-economic impact of the Internet and of mobile communications, mobile financial service and mHealth.
Read about the findings from the studies
Enable initiatives
Telecommunications improves the lives of the Roma
Owing to the “Povezivanje” project, work of Roma health care mediators, education of Roma families in Serbia and support in achieving their rights in the area of health care and health insurance have been improved.
Using mobile to improve farming skills
*1677 Farmer Information Super Highway: Thai farmers can access useful information on agricultural developments by using the dtac service “*1677 Farmer Information Superhighway”.
mHealth partnership supports mother-infant health
Grameephone mHealth partnership – Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action (MAMA). The initiative uses mobile phones to deliver life-saving health messages to expecting and new mothers in Bangladesh either via voice or SMS.
DiGi initiative for Underprivileged Women and NGOs
Through a partnership with e-homemakers, DiGi is making a difference to help underprivileged women and NGOs.
Easypaisa – banking services made easy
Easypaisa was introduced by Telenor Pakistan in collaboration with Tameer Microfinance Bank in 2009 with the aim to bring financial inclusion to Pakistan. Since launch, easypaisa has emerged as a powerful success story in Pakistan giving previously unbanked access to banking services through their mobile phones.