Telenor donates SMS- surplus to the Red Cross
"Light a candle for the children in Beslan" sounded a request distributed per SMS on Sunday. Yesterday, Telenor decided to donate the surplus from the increased SMS traffic to the Red Cross.
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| General secretary of the Norwegian Red Cross, Jonas Gahr Støre received the donation from Telenor CEO, Jon Fredrik Baksaas. |
An invitation of unknown origin led to a sudden increase in the SMS traffic on Sunday. The message simply read: " Tonight candles are lit in the windows all over the world in memory of the children who died in Ossetia. Nowhere in world are children to die as instruments for the actions of adults. Pass on!"
As a result, Telenor experienced a sudden increase; 1,5 million more SMS's than what is usual on Sundays were being sent. Telenor has donated the surplus of NOK one million to the Red Cross.
"The tragedy in Beslan has made a deep impression on us all, the SMS-campaign clearly reflects this. I myself received three SMS's on Sunday night," said Telenor CEO, Jon Fredrik Baksaas as he presented the money to Jonas Gahr Støre, general secretary of the Norwegian Red Cross.
Gahr Støre expressed his satisfaction with the gift, and made it clear that the money will be taken good care of and be spent in the best possible way.
"The Red Cross is already present in Beslan, and the Norwegian Red Cross will soon be ready to send relief supplies," said Gahr Støre.