Vodafone steps up response to Ukraine crisis

Vodafone has redoubled its efforts to help those affected by the Ukraine crisis with a new package of measures.

In addition to making all calls and texts to and from Ukraine free of charge for UK customers, the company has partnered with the British Red Cross, and will match-fund donations to the Disasters Emergency committee (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal that are made through the charity.

Vodafone will also offer free connectivity to 200,000 refugees arriving in the UK from Ukraine as part of the company’s charities.connected initiative, and is launching Tech Appeal for refugees with a donation of 3,000 smartphones (connectivity included) and 1,000 portable power banks, together worth more than £1m.

Pan-European response
The UK’s raft of measures complements those from other Vodafone operating companies in Europe, particularly those bordering Ukraine, such as Romania and Hungary.

For example, Vodafone Romania has been distributing thousands of SIMs loaded with free calls, texts and data to refugees at border crossings and in refugee camps.

And Vodafone Hungary and Vodafone Romania have deployed emergency mobile networks, known as ‘Cells on Wheels’, to ensure refugees have connectivity at key border crossings. Other European operating companies are standing by with instant network equipment should it be needed, with volunteers ready to help install them.

Vodafone Germany will provide up to 1,000 GigaCubes to refugee homes. These portable routers share a single mobile data connection with multiple devices over WiFi. And Vodafone Czech Republic has been donating free SIMs to refugees and has launched an appeal for old phones to be donated to Vodafone retail stores in the country.

CT Bureau