Turkcell View from Davos WEF’18: For Refugees in the Digital Era, Technology is not a Luxury; it is a “Must-Have”
January 25 2018 - 9:45AM
Business Wire
The role of technology in solving global problems is one of the
major themes as global leaders gather in Davos for the World
Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2018. Turkcell (NYSE:
TKC)(BIST:TCELL) CEO Kaan Terzioglu were among leaders who have
addressed the gathering on “Reconnecting Refugees” session.
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Turkcell CEO Kaan Terzioglu spoke at
“Reconnecting Refugees” session during WEF'18 in Davos (Photo:
Business Wire)
“Solve humanitarian issues not with ‘humanless’ but with
human-focused uses of technology”
In his remarks, Kaan Terzioglu emphasized the role that
telecommunications companies can play in addressing humanitarian
problems. He called for a human-centered discussion of the role
that technology can play instead of the current focus on creating
solutions that efface the human element.
Terzioglu also addressed the misconception that having access to
technology is a sign of being quite well-off and that refugees do
not need to be helped if they have access to technological goods.
“A smartphone is not a luxury item for a person who has left
their entire life and loved ones behind and who have seen their
family spread all over the world. It is a lifeline” said Kaan
Terzioglu. “Futhermore, through our work with Syrian refugees
in Turkey, we realized that technologies that are ‘nice-to-have’
for many of us are ‘must-have’ solutions for them. Instant
voice translation on mobile devices and learning the language of
the host country through mobile education tools are among such
solutions. This led us to create ‘Hello Hope’ mobile app which is
used extensively by more than 700 thousand users in Turkey
today.”
Terzioglu also underlined the socially responsible business
angle of using technology for humanitarian purposes: “We reach out
to all refugees from Syria with our aid-focused programs but we
also proudly serve 1.7 million Syrian refugees in Turkey as our
customers. It is an honor to create solutions which will help them
rebuild their lives, and they have rewarded us time and again for
providing these services by choosing Turkcell as their service
provider. Our socially responsible business approach can be another
model for the humanitarian community to ensure that support to
vulnerable populations is sustainable over time.”
Serving 1.7 Syrians with connectivity and digital
solutions
Turkcell currently serves 1.7 million Syrians out of a
population of 3.3 Syrian refugees in Turkey. In addition to its
mobile and fixed connectivity services and bilingual call center,
the operator also offers digital solutions including its flagship
app “Merhaba Umut”/“Hello Hope”. The app incorporates
Turkish-Arabic instant voice translation -used 11 million times- ,
Turkish language learning through vocabulary flashcards - viewed
450 million times - as well useful information cards covering
issues such as registration, education and health - viewed 4.6
million times.
“Reconnected Refugees” session was moderated by Al Arabiya
anchor Mayssoun Azzam. Along with Kaan Terzioglu, the panellists
were Filippo Grandi - UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Louise
Mushikiwabo - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of
Rwanda, Sara Pantuliano – Managing Director of Overseas Development
Institute, and Elaine Weidman-Grunewald - SVP and Chief
Sustainability and Public Affairs Officer of Ericsson.
Watch the full session here:
https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2018/sessions/the-digital-refugee
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Turkcell Corporate CommunicationsBurak
Mergenburak.mergen@turkcell.com.tr
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