Help us advocate for mobile content provided by public benefit organisations to be zero-rated
It’s clear we won’t be able to stop community spread of Covid-19, but we can – and must – limit the number of new infections to prevent our health services from becoming overwhelmed.
Containment measures will essentially work to stretch out the duration of the epidemic, to try and ensure that it peaks at a lower level – while reducing the risk of infection of people who are at a high risk. In all likelihood, the epidemic will peak in May or early June and continue to affect the way we live and work until at least August 2020. That is why it is absolutely critical that we find a way to support the learning of our children during this time.
The DG Murray Trust (DGMT) calls on mobile network operators to urgently zero-rate the services of all public benefit organisations (PBOs) that provide digital content for early learning and education.
“Access to these crucial services for education now rests squarely in the hands of the leadership of mobile network operators,” says Dr David Harrison, CEO of DGMT. “The coronavirus will hit poorer communities hardest. We trust that our mobile network operators will take the lead in ensuring that its impact does not further erode the prospects for our nation’s children.”
While individual operators are making some concessions, deciding which sites they will zero-rate, access to information in a time of crisis cannot be based on the discretion of individual companies. A more fair and structured initiative is necessary. The principle of universal access is crucial, your access to services shouldn’t be dependent on what network you use.
Please help us to advocate for the zero-rating of educational content and mobilise South Africans around this cause by. 1) signing our petition and 2) helping us advocate in your own circles of influence by sharing the posts, tweets, hashtags and images below.
Sample content for social media posts
HASHTAGS TO USE:
#zerorate #zerorateddata #datamustfall #freedata #freemobiledata #mobilelearning
COMPANIES TO TAG:
Vodacom SA |
@Vodacom | @Vodacom | @Vodacom | @Vodacom |
MTN SA |
@MTNza | @MTNza | @MTNza | @MTN |
RAIN SA |
@RainSouthAfrica | @RainSouthAfrica | @RainSouthAfrica | @Rainsouthafrica |
Cell C SA |
@CellC | @CellC.SouthAfrica | @CellCSA | @Cell-C |
Telkom |
@TelkomZa | @TekomZa | @Telkom_ZA | @Telkom |
Department of Science and Innovation |
none | @dsigovsa | none | none |
Department of Telecommunications & Postal Services |
@dtpsza | @docza1 | none | none |
Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa |
none | @www.usaasa.org.za | none | none |
Text for posts
We call on mobile network operators to zero-rate the services of all public benefit organisations that provide digital content for early learning and education. NOW! Sign the petition below.
[http://chng.it/jsDfRPhP8v]
We call on mobile network operators to zero-rate the services of all public benefit organisations that provide digital content for early learning and education so that children can continue to learn during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sign the petition below.
[http://chng.it/jsDfRPhP8v]
School closures during the COVID-19 pandemic affect education. We call on mobile network operators to zero-rate the services of all public benefit organisations (PBOs) that provide digital content for early learning and education. NOW! Sign the petition below.
[http://chng.it/jsDfRPhP8v]
Learning MUST continue at home during the COVID-19 pandemic school closures. We call on mobile network operators to zero-rate the services of all public benefit organisations (PBOs) that provide digital content for early learning and education.