The telecom industry is leaning towards women's empowerment in the digital realm, the leaders of the industry said at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.
The four-day MWC began on February 26, with the participation of top technology manufacturers, providers, leaders, and policymakers from around the globe, said a press release.
Officials from the Bangladesh telecom industry, regulatory bodies and other key stakeholders also took part in the mega event. Bangladesh mobile industry leaders discussed some of their initiatives regarding women’s empowerment through messages.
Yasir Azman, AMTOB President-Elect and CEO of Grameenphone said, “In Bangladesh, where currently 29 percent of mobile internet users are women, we aim to increase this figure to 32 percent by 2026. To achieve this goal, we have initiated two key efforts. One involves educating and enhancing the skills of 2 million vulnerable individuals in Bangladesh, with 60 percent of this target being women.”
The second initiative entails educating 10 million teachers and children on online safety, with 58 percent of this demographic being women and girls. These are the two commitments of Grameenphone aimed at increasing female internet users, he said.
Shihab Ahmad, chief commercial officer, Robi Axiata Limited said, “Robi has been part of this initiative with GSMA since 2016. Our commitment to bringing women into the digital world remains a key focus for us at Robi.”
“We have initiated Project Khadiza, aimed at fostering female developers to create solutions catering specifically to female customers within our national app store. Additionally, we have launched nationwide programs, targeting households, particularly in rural areas where access to women can be challenging. These initiatives are envisioned to elevate us to a national and industry-wide level, facilitating increased women's participation in the digital sphere. This reflects Robi's commitment to the cause,” he added.
Taimur Rahman, chief corporate & regulatory affairs officer, Banglalink said, “We currently have approximately 26 percent of women as mobile internet users, and our commitment is to raise this number to nearly 30 percent within the next two years. We strongly believe that without empowering women, the country's development cannot progress. To facilitate this, we have taken initiatives such as developing the "My BL App," where ChatGPT also plays a role, ensuring that women can easily utilize these applications. We have utilized our entire network to support this endeavor.”