Telecoms & Networks News South Africa

MTN rewards users with 1GB of data for downloading Covid-19 Alert app

MTN recently announced that it is rewarding its users that download the Covid-19 Alert South Africa app with 1GB of data that is valid for one hour.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

The telecommunications company said the following in a statement: “In an effort to rally South Africans to download and use the Covid-19 Alert South Africa app, MTN has not only zero-rated its use but will reward customers with 1GB of free data for an hour after download as a reward for their efforts in fighting the pandemic.”

The app, which was designed by Discovery for the National Department of Health, uses Bluetooth contact-tracing technology to let people know when they have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19. It does this in a way that always preserves app user privacy and anonymity.

MTN SA’s executive for corporate affairs, Jacqui O’Sullivan, says: “One of the critical aspects of combatting Covid-19 is the ability to detect positive cases early and to isolate as many contacts as possible. The Covid-19 Alert app gives every smartphone user in South Africa the chance to understand their exposure to the virus, so that we can all protect our families and our communities, and especially those people who are most at risk of severe disease.”

“For Bluetooth contact tracing to be effective, at least 10-15% of the population must download and use the app in a given area. At 60% uptake, suppression of the virus can be achieved. This is why we have taken the steps to zero rate and even reward our customers who have downloaded the app,” explains O’Sullivan.

MTN’s support of this initiative comes as the company continued to drive the #WearItForMe campaign - a call-to-action for South Africans to wear their masks safely.

“These initiatives build on MTN’s work carried out under Y’ello Hope to limit the impact of the pandemic, including through providing free data lifelines and zero-rated access to educational sites,” adds O’Sullivan.

The Covid-19 Alert South Africa app can be downloaded from the Playstore and Apple's App Store.

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