[News] 2degrees, Vodafone and Spark to Credit SMS and Calls to Nepal
[Update 29/4/2015: Vodafone are also crediting calls and texts to Nepal from 5:00pm Saturday 25th April to 5:00PM Tuesday 28th April.]
In the wake of the devastating earthquake in Nepal in the weekend, 2degrees and Spark will be crediting all calls and SMS messages made to mobiles and landlines in Nepal from Friday 24th April (2degrees), and, 5.00pm Saturday 25 April (Spark) until midnight Wednesday 29th April.
Our thoughts are with the people of Nepal, as well as those visiting the country at the time of this disaster.
2degrees and Spark is crediting all calls as it’s important family and friends in New Zealand are able to stay in touch with loved ones in Nepal at this time.
Spark Home, Mobile & Business Chief Executive Chris Quin says:
“Many of our customers have been calling or texting family and friends in Nepal, worried about their wellbeing. We think it’s important they don’t have to worry about a large phone bill at the end of the month in addition to everything else.”
The credit will apply to direct dial calls (00 and 0161) made from home phones or mobile phones and texts to landlines and mobile phones in Nepal.
The credits will be retrospectively applied to customers’ accounts in either their May or June bills, depending on their bill cycle.
Network providers recommends customers use text if possible when trying to contact loved ones so that it places minimal impact on Nepal’s mobile networks. In previous natural disasters, partner networks have found their networks can be heavily loaded and the priority at this time needs to be on emergency calling and disaster relief efforts.
People who wish to donate to the recovery effort in Nepal can do so through several fundraising pages, which have been set up on the Spark Foundation’s Givealittle platform.
