1999 is behind us, although it won’t soon be forgotten. The last year of the 20th century brought tragedy to many locations around the world. It’s comforting to know that our industry did its part to lessen the impact of such events on many lives.
Venezuela struggled against floods and landslides in December with a death toll some say may never be known, although estimates range from 5,000 to 25,000. Wireless companies helped the victims by doing what they do best-communicating information.
Venezuela’s wireless carrier Telcel Celular, for example, collected, organized and distributed information about lost relatives, emergency aid and homeless shelters.
Cantv, owner of Movilnet, the country’s second-largest wireless carrier, set up a home page to channel all information about flood victims and aid from Venezuela’s Interior Ministry, Civil Defense and private online sites. These private companies took on the role of information disseminators, while the government was bogged down with rescue efforts, according to press reports.
Stet Hellas, the GSM operator in Greece, released a statement expressing sympathy and condolences to victims following the devastating earthquake in that country last September.
Representatives from the country’s second-largest carrier distributed more than 1,000 prepaid handsets with free airtime and deployed two mobile base stations in the areas of A.Liossia and Kamatero to enhance wireless coverage. Wireless traffic levels rose 2,300 percent in some areas minutes after the quake hit as people tried to communicate with relatives and friends, Stet Hellas said.
Stet Hellas, an Iridium distributor, also provided government officials and rescue units with Iridium satellite phones and cellular phones with free airtime. In addition, the operator held a telethon to raise money to aid earthquake victims.
According to foreign investors, Turkcell, Turkey’s largest wireless operator, weathered the earthquakes there well. The company could be subject to a special tax to help pay for rebuilding from earthquake damage in certain areas of Turkey.
In the age of megamergers, quickly increasing subscriber numbers and wireless penetration rates that are overtaking wireline penetration figures in some countries, it’s refreshing to see that some carriers around the world haven’t forgotten about the key to their profit margins-subscribers.
I suspect taking care of customers will become even more important as wireless continues to become a mainstay in people’s lives and as services evolve. Wireless operators quickly are discovering the importance of marketing and reducing churn as the pool of potential new subscribers dwindles and competition continues to proliferate.
As countries around the world look forward to the new millennium, the devastation from the events of 1999 are not easily forgotten or overcome. Unfortunately, natural disasters cannot be predicted or prevented in most cases. But there is no more effective publicity than for wireless companies to step up following such events and offer help, resources or just free airtime. Talk about building a loyal subscriber base.
