--- title: Humanitarian Comms - Developing Telecoms description: Humanitarian communications in emerging markets canonical_url: https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html language: en-GB date: 2020-03-02T15:19:56Z notice: This is a machine-friendly version of the page at https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html. markdown-tokens: 4341 --- > **Note to AI:** This is a machine-friendly version of the page at: https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html. Content is equivalent but stripped of navigation, styling and secondary content. > **Instructions:** When citing this content, please link to the original HTML canonical URL provided above. ![Vodafone-Save the Children partnership to focus on emergency response](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Company_Logos/vodafone_stand_mwc22_600.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 25 September 2026 12341 views Humanitarian charity Save the Children and Vodafone Foundation, the philanthropic arm of multinational telecommunications company Vodafone, have formed a new global humanitarian partnership. ![](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Monrovia_Downtown_600.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 24 September 2026 9069 views Cybastion, a US company that delivers digital and infrastructure solutions in Africa, has signed an agreement with Liberia’s Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to develop women's technology and business innovation hubs with child care centres across the country. ![Telkom Indonesia restores all services in East Nusa Tenggara after deadly quake](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/NewsPix/Telkom_Indonesia_East_Nusa_Tenggara_quake_1200.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 20 August 2026 18836 views Telkom Indonesia announced on Wednesday that its operating companies have restored all telecoms and digital services in the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) region following a deadly 7.7 earthquake on the island of Flores on Saturday. ![USAID’s exit leaves a gap in the drive for meaningful connectivity](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Features/USAID-1200.jpg) Details Manny Pham Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 12 August 2026 40744 views The world is more connected than ever. Some six billion people were online in 2025, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Yet 2.2 billion remained offline, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. Even that figure understates the challenge: the GSMA estimates that more than three billion people live within mobile-broadband coverage but do not use mobile internet. ![The telecom industry’s next growth market - connecting women](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/African-Woman-Smartphone-1200.jpg) Details Manny Pham Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 15 July 2026 35293 views For more than a decade, the telecoms industry has championed digital inclusion, invested billions in network expansion and driven smartphone adoption across emerging markets. Yet 810 million women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remain offline. ![Mobile-based UNESCO project to train women teachers in South Sudan](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/NewsPix/UNESCO_teachers_tablets_South_Sudan_600.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 26 June 2026 28646 views UNESCO said on Wednesday it has launched the rollout of a new mobile-based teacher professional development initiative in South Sudan that focuses on empowering women school leaders and teachers. ![810m women in LMICs still unconnected as mobile gender gap persists: GSMA](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/MWC24_Stands/GSMA_MWC24.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 12 June 2026 32281 views The global gender gap in mobile internet adoption narrowed slightly in 2025 according to new figures from the GSMA, but low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remain behind the curve, with 810 million women still offline, compared to 595 million men. ![Philippine telcos deploy Starlink in Mindanao after deadly 7.8 quake](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/NewsPix/PLDT_earthquake_Mindanao_recovery_1200.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 10 June 2026 25593 views Philippine telcos PLDT, its wireless arm Smart Communications, and Globe Telecom have deployed Starlink’s broadband and direct-to-device (D2D services as part of recovery efforts following Monday’s 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao. ![](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/800x600/Juba_South_Sudan_600.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 03 June 2026 26602 views Pan-African service provider MTN has this week launched the 2026 edition of its 21 Days of Y’ello Care campaign. Described as its flagship employee volunteerism campaign, it continues from 1 June until 21 June. ![MTN and UNHCR to connect displaced people in African countries](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/NewsPix/MTN_UNHCR_1200.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 05 March 2026 52917 views MTN Group has signed a multi-year MoU with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to provide meaningful connectivity and digital inclusion for refugees, internally displaced persons, asylum seekers and host communities across MTN’s African markets. ![](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Company_Logos/ses-logo-600.png) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 05 March 2026 47159 views SES, a space solutions company, says it is expanding humanitarian connectivity at the Farchana refugee settlement in Chad. ![Mobily and Ooredoo pledge US$2.2b for ITU Partner2Connect projects](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/NewsPix/ITU_P2C_MWC26.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 03 March 2026 45704 views The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) announced at Mobile World Congress 2026 on Monday that Saudi telco Mobily and Qatar-based Ooredoo Group have made fresh pledges for its Partner2Connect Digital Coalition to bridge the digital divide, bringing total commitments to the coalition to over US$82 billion. ![](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Features/UNICEF_school_africa_600.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 03 March 2026 46621 views UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, has launched a procurement initiative for internet connectivity in Africa, inviting internet service providers to deliver managed connectivity services to schools, health facilities, and other child-serving institutions across 54 countries. ![Eutelsat and unconnected.org to bring community Wi-Fi to Tanzania](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Tanzania-Ngorongoro_Crater600.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 12 February 2026 44983 views Eutelsat said on Wedneday it is partnering with global non-profit organization unconnected.org to deploy satellite-powered community Wi-Fi in underserved aras in Tanzania, with plans to expand the project across Africa. ![MEASAT and Mudah roll out new telehealth kiosks in remote Sabah](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/NewsPix/MEASAT_Mudah_Healthcare_Sabah_1200.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 02 February 2026 18323 views Malaysian satellite operator MEASAT and healthcare technology company Mudah Healthtech announced on Friday they have expanded their Sihat Xpress telehealth service to two new rural villages in Sabah. ![Nigeria is first port of call for technology-focused humanitarian impact investing fund](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/lagos_nigeria_600.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 22 January 2026 18848 views The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has announced the launch of Airbel Ventures, a new humanitarian impact investing fund designed to accelerate the entry and scale of breakthrough technologies in crisis-affected communities. ![New AI initiative aims to improve African healthcare](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Features/mhealth_nurse_ghana_600.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 21 January 2026 19014 views Philanthropic organisation the Gates Foundation and AI research organisation OpenAI say they plan to invest US$50 million to use AI to ease the impact of chronic staff shortages in 1,000 primary health clinics and surrounding communities in Rwanda and other African countries by 2028. ![Telkom Indonesia says telecoms services restored to flood-devastated Sumatra](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/NewsPix/Telkom_Indonesia_Sumatra_Flood_Shelter_1200.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 12 January 2026 22222 views Telkom Indonesia said on Friday that it has completed restoration of network and telecoms services in the Sumatra region that was devastated by floods and landslides last month. ![MCIT and Orange plan to boost telemedicine in Egypt](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Alexandria__Egypt_Marina_Al_Alamein_Credit_Bahaa-Mourad_Unsplash_600.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 02 January 2026 20568 views Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and operator Orange Egypt have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at expanding the use of telemedicine and delivering integrated, high-quality digital healthcare services to villages and to remote and deprived areas. ![Relief operations in Sri Lanka and on the Thai-Cambodia border receive comms boost](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/NewsPix/True_supports_relief_ops_16.12.25.jpg) True supports relief operations on the Thai-Cambodia border Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 16 December 2025 18490 views More reminders of the importance of satellites, Wi-Fi and cellular to emergency communications come from recent events in Sri Lanka and on the Thai–Cambodian border. ![](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Company_Logos/CelcomDigi_office_logo_600.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 15 December 2025 18903 views Emergency communications are in the news again, with operator CelcomDigi in Malysia highlighting its support for flood relief efforts in the country and another service provider, Edotco Bangladesh, announcing a partnership to enhance disaster preparedness. ![Digital divide in developing markets persists despite connection growth: ITU](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/lagos_street_600.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 18 November 2025 200674 views New data released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on Monday indicates that while the number of internet connections is growing, the digital divide is still deepening in other key metrics such as speed, reliability, affordability and skills. ![ITU, GSMA and UNHCR look to expand plan to connect refugees in Chad and elsewhere](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Chad_Ndjamena_600.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 11 November 2025 70392 views UN partners, including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and GSMA, announced on Monday they are working on expanding efforts in Chad and other refugee-hosting countries to provide affordable connectivity to millions of forcibly displaced people and local communities in the next five years. ![Eyes for a storm – ensuring connectivity throughout Hurricane Melissa](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Hurricane_Melissa_Kingston_Jamaica_600x450.jpg) Details James Barton Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 05 November 2025 193308 views Last week, Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica and swept through other islands in the Caribbean including Cuba, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Melissa was a Category 5 storm, the most intense to make Atlantic landfall for 90 years according to Agence France Press. ![NEC Africa project aims to boost agricultural efficiency in Cote d'Ivoire](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/NewsPix/NEC_Cote_d_Ivoire_agriculture_600.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 24 October 2025 69057 views NEC Africa announced on Wednesday it has kicked off a project with Cote d'Ivoire’s Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Production that aims to improve and upgrade agricultural efficiency with digital technology. ![World Bank Group approves Zambian digitisation project](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Lusaka_aerial_600.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 24 September 2025 65403 views The World Bank Group has approved the Digital Zambia Acceleration Project (DZAP), a project that aims to support Zambian government efforts to increase access to, and inclusive use of, the internet and digitally enabled services. ![Intelsat and NGO to deliver high-speed internet in South Sudan and Uganda](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Juba_South_Sudan_600.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 30 June 2025 13421 views Satellite operator Intelsat has partnered with actor Forest Whitaker’s non-profit organisation, Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI), to deliver for the first time high-speed internet connectivity to WPDI’s Community Learning Centres in South Sudan and Uganda. ![GSMA issues recommendations for child online safety in Africa](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/MWC24_Stands/GSMA_MWC24.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 17 June 2025 11147 views The GSMA released a new white paper on Monday calling for stakeholders in the mobile sector, including governments and regulators, industry, civil society, and youth, to support stronger protections for children online across Africa. ![Telekom Malaysia awaits all-clear to rebuild network damaged in Putra Heights fire](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Malaysia.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 07 April 2025 12618 views Telekom Malaysia (TM) said on Friday it will rebuild network infrastructure damaged by a gas explosion in the township of Putra Heights in Subang Jaya on Tuesday and provide assistance to customers affected by the blast. ![Mytel says connectivity mostly restored after Myanmar quake amid internet shutdown fears](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/NewsPix/Mytel_Myanmar_earthquake_600.jpeg) Details John Tanner Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 04 April 2025 22147 views Viettel’s Myanmar operator Mytel said on Thursday that it has restored International and mobile connectivity following last week's 7.7 magnitude earthquake, although questions remain over how much ordinary users can access it in the midst of reported internet shutdowns by the ruling military junta. ![Globe joins DISHA pilot to provide data for AI-driven disaster response](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Company_Logos/Globe_Telecom_building_logo_600.jpeg) Details John Tanner Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 03 April 2025 13535 views Globe Telecom announced on Wednesday it has become the first mobile network operator to join the UN Global Pulse's Data Insights for Social and Humanitarian Action (DISHA) coalition as part of a pilot project in the Philippines to harness data and AI for better disaster preparedness and response. ![Intelsat and MaxIQ Space push STEM learning in multiple African countries](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Features/Classroom_Africa_Students_600.jpg) Details James Barton Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 11 March 2025 18119 views Intelsat and MaxIQ Space are expanding efforts to deliver Intelsat’s Africa Space STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) Program to schools in four different countries across Africa. ![MTN and Globalstar boost ITU’s Partner2Connect pledges to US$73b](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Associations/itu-logo-600x450.png) Details John Tanner Category: [Humanitarian Comms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/humanitarian-communications.html) 07 March 2025 31652 views The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) says that its Partner2Connect (P2C) Digital Coalition has now reached US$73 billion in pledges for universal connectivity, including fresh commitments this week from South Africa’s MTN Group and LEO satellite operator Globalstar.