Ooredoo

The company’s Myanmar subsidiary gives members of vulnerable groups access to the internet through public libraries. It achieves this by giving librarians digital literacy training to enable them to help users. This subsidiary also partners with IREX, a global development and education organisation, to assist girls in Myanmar to develop digital skills.

Ooredoo collaborates with Facebook and GSMA on Internet101, a digital literacy campaign to increase awareness and adoption of the mobile internet in Myanmar. The programme is delivered through one-on-one training in Ooredoo retail stores and deploying mobile vans to rural and inaccessible areas of the country.

Evidence could not be found of leading practice in this area.

Ooredoo supports technology innovation ecosystems through venture capital investments and partnering with the United Nations Development Programme to stage competitions for social entrepreneurs in Myanmar.

Ooredoo could provide more information about its digital access and digital inclusion programmes for girls, such as its contributions and the number of beneficiaries. Additionally, no evidence could be found about how the company supports digital access for users with disabilities. It should also disclose how the economic value it generates is distributed among stakeholders.

While Ooredoo has programmes supporting basic digital literacy, the available information is limited and lacks metrics, such as how much it contributes and the number of beneficiaries. Opportunities are available for Ooredoo to further support digital skills development and school connectivity, particularly as it operates in several developing nations.

Minimal evidence could be found about the company’s processes for supporting safe, secure and trusted use of digital technologies. Overall, the company could better demonstrate how it manages cybersecurity, and monitors and reports on security issues. Ooredoo reports having information security management certification, but it could follow best practice and provide a copy of the certificate. It could also enhance its privacy policies, especially in relation to third-party access to user information and user’s right to obtain a copy of their data. No evidence could be found of company initiatives for protecting children online.

Ample opportunities exist for Ooredoo to better demonstrate how it ensures open, inclusive and ethical innovation. No evidence was found of initiatives supporting open source and standards, or for sustainable development research. In relation to innovation for inclusivity and diversity, the company should disclose the number of women it employs, including how many work in technical areas, and the locations of its research and development facilities. Finally, no evidence could be found that Oooredoo considers ethics in its research activities.