France Telecom-Orange Addresses Haiti

The France Telecom-Orange Group announced its initial series of measures for earthquake-hit Haiti:


Orange Dominicana, France Telecom-Orange group subsidiary in the Dominican Republic, took a number of emergency steps: local technical teams are working to improve means of communication in the border zone (power generators, fuel, radio stations and other technical equipment), mobiles have been handed out to humanitarian organisations and emergency satellite telephones have been loaned to the authorities.


The Group's teams in the Dominican Republic, in the Caribbean region, in France and around the world, have also made themselves available to the local and international authorities to provide the technical and human resources needed to re-establish the telecommunications network in Haiti. Teams of experts and French network technicians (IP and mobile) will be on the ground as soon as possible.


France Telecom has decided to offer free calls to its mobile customers in mainland France to and from Haiti until the end of January, effective retroactively from 12 January when the earthquake took place. For its fixed-line mass-market customers in mainland France, France Telecom is offering free calls to Haiti until the end of February.


In France, as of 15 January, Orange will take part in a one-month operation, SMS for Haiti: three special numbers will allow all Orange customers to make a donation quickly and easily to the Red Cross, the Secours Populaire and the Secours Catholique humanitarian organisations.


To make a one-euro donation, customes simply have to text HAITI to 80222 for the Red Cross, 80333 for Secours Populaire, and 80444 for Secours Catholique. In return, they will receive the logo of the chosen charity on their mobile, along with a message confirming that the donation was registered. Operators will donate the cost of the SMS to the partner associations.


France Telecom will also participate in rebuilding efforts.
http://www.ft.com