Connecting societies to what matters most

Connecting societies to what matters most

In the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the world is experiencing, in many cases, the complete upheaval of daily life. Societies are navigating new ways of educating children, running businesses, maintaining critical societal functions, all while trying to ensure the health and welfare of those affected.

In addition, this crisis has led to a sizeable increase in voice and data traffic, higher demands for telecom services and considerable pressure on networks all over the world. The stakes are high, and growing.

It is Telenor’s commitment and responsibility to support you, your business and society at-large.

Today, Telenor is stepping up its contribution to societies in their fight against the effects of the Coronavirus. Telenor is highlighting four initiatives to contribute to its societies:

  • Continue its significant investments in secure and reliable networks, and offer added network coverage where needed

  • Offer mobility data analytics for health authorities to predict and prevent the spread of the virus

  • Encourage collaboration to secure children’s access to internet and education

  • Make selected online learning programmes and online security resources available for people and businesses

Continue its significant investments in secure and reliable networks, and offer-added network coverage where needed

Telenor is continuously investing in secure and reliable networks. This is now more important than ever as Telenor sees increasing load in our networks across all markets due to the crisis. Nordics reports an average 44 percent increase in daily voice volume and 12 percent in data volume since January. Developed Asia has a 5 percent voice traffic increase and 14 percent data increase in the same period.

Telenor will continue its significant investments despite the economic uncertainty created by COVID-19. This year we have committed to invest a significant amount in networks and infrastructure, ensuring Telenor’s ability to secure reliable and stable networks, maintain productivity and protect access to vital services.

Telenor provides connectivity support related to mission critical services. This includes offering and providing relevant coverage and capacities at locations such as hospitals, relief centres, police stations, key government offices, and connectivity for medical practitioners, enforcement personnel, and other parties on the frontlines of stemming the COVID-19 crisis.

Connecting societies to what matters most

Offer mobility data analytics for health authorities to predict and prevent the spread of the virus

Telenor is exploring mobility data exchange arrangements with health authorities in several markets, including the Nordics. This is based on Telenor currently offering mobility data analytics and competences available to health authorities in Norway to understand the spread of the virus and health system impact. This is based on five years of experience in Pakistan and Bangladesh in combatting dengue fever and malaria.

The mobility data analytics gives insight on people’s movement from one municipality to another, and is fully anonymous. From mobility data and virus case data, one can estimate the current and future trajectory of the epidemic. This information can be used to quantify the number of hospitalisations and ICU occupancy, and make decisions on intervention measures and targeted response needs. In these situations, mathematical models are valuable tools for preparedness planning and decision making. Telenor anonymises all data, and re-identification of users is not possible.

We also share our experience with other telecom companies in Europe as well as international stakeholders such as the European Commission, the international organisation for mobile network operators, GSMA, and World Economic Forum.

Encourage collaboration to secure children’s access to internet and education

Telenor continues to focus on collaboration in this period related to children’s access to internet and continued educational learning. With numerous children and young people spending a lot of time online, Telenor is also making available and promoting digital content on child online safety in its markets. E.g. through an online safety contest via Cybersafe programme in Malaysia and promoting Digiworld in Pakistan. Dtac in Thailand has also made subsidised high-speed data packages available for university students to support education at home.

Make selected online learning programmes and online security resources available for people and businesses

Connecting societies to what matters most

The rate of unemployment has increased rapidly during the COVID-19 crisis. Vast numbers of people have to navigate a challenging economic environment to find new employment. Telenor wants to make a selection of its comprehensive range of internal online education programs, containing courses in important digital competency areas, available to people currently out of work due to the virus, starting in Norway.

We also aim to make the company’s extensive range of experts available through free webinars. The risk of being a target of online fraud has also increased during the crisis. Telenor has invested significantly in online security competency and tools. We now want to share advice, knowledge, tools, competences and, when applicable, make training free of charge and available for other businesses across its markets, to help them better tackle challenges related to cybercrime.