Ooredoo’s efforts to support the government of Qatar in the ongoing battle against COVID-19 have been recognised by Qatari citizens and residents as among the best in the country, according to a poll conducted by Ipsos, one of the world’s largest market research organisations.
The telecommunications leader was named in a list of the top 10 companies in Qatar for their efforts in managing the coronavirus situation, following a survey of Qatari citizens and resident who were asked a series of questions about their experiences of various entities in Qatar since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak.
Ipsos asked survey participants in Qatar which entities and organisations they considered had contributed most significantly and effectively to the fight against the pandemic. The top 10 were then listed as Ooredoo, Ministry of Public Health, Qatar Charity, Qatar Red Crescent, Al-Meera, Qatar National Bank, Doha Bank, Qatar Airways, Qatar Foundation and Qatar Petroleum.
The result of the survey reflects the overall satisfaction with the significant efforts Ooredoo has been making to combat the spread of the virus. Efforts include large-scale awareness campaigns via SMS and social media; encouraging community members to stay at home with a range of free offers and service upgrades on home and mobile internet services; doubling internet speeds for schools and universities at no extra cost, effectively contributing to distance education; and adding new dedicated educational channels to the Ooredoo tv service. Ooredoo has also exempted its customers from download fees and data charges for the use of the Ehteraz app.
In order to ensure awareness campaigns and support reached as many sectors of the community as possible, the telco leader distributed awareness leaflets about COVID-19 in industrial zones and, in collaboration with the Qatar Red Crescent, distributed recharge cards to labourers so they could communicate with their families and friends.
The company has also played a pivotal role in encouraging individuals to volunteer and participate in the Ministry of Public Health’s efforts to combat the virus.
Ooredoo was a prominent contributor to the Let’s Celebrate Eid Together initiative in Qatar, which was launched with the aim of promoting community cohesion and solidarity with the people of Qatar affected by the pandemic. The initiative included the provision of 50,000 food baskets containing many basic supplies, and coronavirus prevention materials such as gloves, masks and sanitising gel. Ooredoo also distributed data and calling cards to the beneficiaries of the campaign.
Sabah Rabiah Al-Kuwari, Director PR at Ooredoo, said: “The coronavirus outbreak poses an unusual challenge to the whole world, so from the outset we have been keen to develop a comprehensive plan to support the efforts of official entities as they manage the impact of the pandemic. Our focus has been on raising awareness of how best to avoid transmission of the virus, as well as supporting our communities in various ways as they follow government guidelines to stay home; whether by introducing valuable offers on telecommunications services, by providing additional services or by enhancing other services at no additional cost. We intend to continue our efforts and launch new initiatives in the near future to maximise our contributions to our communities until life returns to normal.”
