With the aim to bridge the mobile gender gap, Uninor has announced that it will be awarded a grant by the GSMA’s Mobile For Development Foundation Inc. via its Connected Women programme, which provides fund to the telecom operators for the design and launch of economically sustainable products and services.
Under this first-of-its-kind commercial initiative, the Project Sampark will aim to increase women’s access to the use of mobile phones and to promote solutions towards women’s barriers to mobile usage. GSMA has agreed to partner in this joint initiative to create awareness that the mobile is a tool of facilitation for women and their ownership of a mobile phone needs to be encouraged by the society.
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Morten Karlsen Sorby, CEO, Uninor, said, "Mobile technology has the ability to change the way we communicate, but its effects are not evenly distributed. Gender disparity is also echoed in mobile usage. This is a significant area of concern and what better way than using mobile connectivity to help deal with this developmental challenge. The launch of ‘Project Sampark’ is a first step in this direction and we are encouraged by the support from GSMA to endorse this initiative."
The total investment over the seven-month duration of the project is estimated at US$183,654. Uninor will be contributing US$113,654, while GSMA will be granting US$70,000 to support the project.
Project Sampark is being launched as a pilot project to assess the barriers that women face in accessing mobile services such as affordability, mental block or social stigma attached with women to own a handset. The project will aim to enhance tele-density among women, especially in the rural pockets of India.
Uninor will also train women entrepreneurs to make a livelihood by offering them an opportunity to sell mobile prepaid connections and recharge vouchers.
