Communications is the difference between refugees with hope, and those without it. Seven years ago, in my role as CEO of a mobile operator in Turkey, I saw firsthand the plight of millions of Syrians who came across the border to find safety. What I observed was that for these refugees one of their greatest needs was communications. They urgently needed to talk with relatives and tell them that they were safe, or to find friends and family. Since that time, refugees' need for connectivity has become even greater as they rely on the mobile internet to access health services, manage their finances or access other essential online services.
The immeasurable importance of communications falls under the global spotlight on May 17th when the United Nation celebrates World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. On this day we honour what communications brings to the functioning of societies, and recognise the startling digital inequalities between and within countries. Across governments and international institutions, it is also important that everyone understands the role that communications companies play in providing critical humanitarian support at times of crisis.
Right now, over six million Ukrainians are displaced to neighbouring countries with many travelling further to find safety in Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, France and other European states. Communications is vital for these people. While we are proud of what the telco industry has already done to help through the collaboration of 27 European operators to eliminate roaming costs for refugees, this is a steppingstone towards recognising that communications in the 21st century be acknowledged as a fundamental human need alongside food, water and shelter.
Alongside helping refugees, a priority has been to keep our networks running in Ukraine. Due to bombardments cutting electricity supplies and damaging towers, entire areas and cities have been cut off at times. Our teams have worked around the clock to fix networks and restore services, including the construction of more than 100 new base stations. Thanks to this work and a partnership with Internet providers, Kyivstar has been able to maintain over 90% availability to ensure essential connectivity for people of Ukraine.
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Communications is the difference between refugees with hope, and those without it. Seven years ago, in my role as CEO of a mobile operator in Turkey, I saw firsthand the plight of millions of Syrians who came across the border to find safety. What I observed was that for these refugees one of their greatest needs was communications. They urgently needed to talk with relatives and tell them that they were safe, or to find friends and family. Since that time, refugees' need for connectivity has become even greater as they rely on the mobile internet to access health services, manage their finances or access other essential online services.
