Qtel Group is continuing to “push the envelope” by deploying mobile broadband technology to address key social issues, forging a number of major new partnerships and collaborations in the US in recent weeks. Chairman Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohamed bin Saud al-Thani emphasised Group’s drive to encourage creativity and connections between entrepreneurs and original thinkers, as part of his role as a Commissioner to the UN Broadband Commission for Digital Development, which met in New York last week. According to the UN Broadband Commission report, “State of Broadband 2012”, mobile broadband use could help address the so-called “digital divide” of access to the Internet, as there are almost twice as many mobile broadband subscriptions as fixed broadband connections in the world today.
Sheikh Abdullah said: “We all recognise the potential impact of mobile broadband on the lives of people in the developed and the developing world. It is becoming a primary enabler of economic progress, healthcare information, and social contact in many societies today. That means that operators have a particular responsibility to ‘push the envelope’ in terms of promoting creativity and the intelligent use of technology.”“State of Broadband 2012” was launched at the Broadband Commission meeting in New York, aiming to expand on the theme of “Achieving digital inclusion for all.” For the first time ever, the report analyses global broadband rollout country-by-country, and the impact of broadband on government policy, economics, social inclusion and sustainability. According to the data, Qatar is ranked eighth in the world in percentage of individuals using the Internet at 86, and more than three-quarters of the country’s medium and large enterprises enjoy broadband access.As well as the Broadband Commission meeting, the Qtel Group chairman and other team-members took part in the Social Good Summit in New York, sharing the excitement and global conversations of the international event. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton opened the summit, and speakers included two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, author Deepak Chopra and actress America Ferrera — plus, a surprise appearance by World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.At the summit, Qtel Group Chief Executive Officer Dr Nasser Marafih launched the “GSMA mWomen design challenge: redefining the user experience.” The design challenge calls for programmers and product designers to develop services that can increase mobile access and literacy for women in the developing world. In these emerging markets, nearly 300mn women do not have access to mobile phones or do not know how to use them to their full potential, according to GSMA research. Winners of the mWomen design challenge will be announced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in 2013. In addition to taking part in the summit, Qtel Group held discussions with Cherie Blair and her Foundation for Women about expanding initiatives that empower women entrepreneurs.Already Qtel Group has seen strong response on several mWomen initiatives, such as Iraqi operator Asiacell launching the Almas (Diamond) line with features catered to women. Indonesian operator Indosat has trained 5,000 low-income micro-entrepreneurs in selling mobile products and services through the “RumaPulsa” social enterprise, and has launched the “Info Wanita” (Information for Women) service, which delivers to Indonesian women important information on small business management, financial management, life skills, health and childcare.Dr Marafih was also recently appointed chairman of the GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation, a non-profit organisation that supports life-enhancing services to millions of underserved people in emerging markets.