Three Gold Stevies® in International Business Awards® for making mobile internet accessible in emerging markets
London, September 11th, 2020 – Leading mobile technology company, Upstream, has been awarded three Gold Stevie® Awards in the 17th Annual International Business Awards® for its deployment of Zero-D in South Africa.
A panel of more than 250 independent judges from across the world comprised of leading industry experts, analysts, journalists and academics, have selected Upstream’s Zero-D for making mobile internet access available to 250 million consumers without data in emerging markets.
Zero-D was named:
- Gold – Best New Product or Service of the Year – Telecommunications Product
- Gold – Best New Product or Service of the Year – Telecommunications Service
- Gold – Product & Service Categories – Business Technology Solutions – Mobile Operations Management Solutions
Judges’ comments for Zero-D included:
- “This unique telecommunications product supports digital integration in South Africa.”
- “The service empowers users to support their own connectivity by interacting with ads on their own terms to gain mobile data.”
- “Upstream is successfully providing digital services to under-served customers in 20 countries. Recognizing that in today’s connected world, online access is increasingly becoming a basic human right. The new Zero-D platform provides for consistent connectivity, allowing users access to important educational and government services as well as stay in touch with friends and family.”
“Despite the increasingly digital world”, said Upstream Deputy CEO, Kostas Kastanis, “41 percent of the world’s population lacks access to the Internet. Hundreds of millions of people, most of which are from developing economies and rely upon mobile devices, lose access when financial and physical restrictions limit their ability to top up mobile data when they run out. This barrier keeps mobile users offline 50 percent of the time, translating to lost revenues, decreased engagement and low brand perception for mobile network operators”.
Zero-D by Upstream, an ad-funded free mobile Internet platform, helps keep users connected to the digital world even when they have run out of data on their pre-paid accounts. The deployment in South Africa facilitates enduring connectivity for over 25 million mobile users. The portal provides a zero-rated web environment in which users can enjoy continuous access to Internet essentials including local and international news, web search, weather reports, job portals, e-school courses, and unrestricted access to Wikipedia.
It also gives users access to Facebook Flex, a low-data version of Facebook, helping customers stay connected socially. Zero-rated access to certain government websites is also included; allowing users to access important services such as home affairs, healthcare, finances and general government communication services.
When a subscriber reaches the end of their data, they are redirected to the Zero-D portal. Within the portal, they can enjoy uninterrupted access to the Internet. The portal gives subscribers the option of digitally topping up their service for increased airtime or data by watching advertisements. This method of data rewards advertising extends support beyond the portal for mobile users in need of accessible connectivity.
“Zero-D is as much a mission for us, as it is a business,” said Kastanis. “What makes it sustainable is that it is designed so that everyone benefits, at the same time as contributing something positive to the world. We are proud that the judges of the International Business Awards® have recognized that we are already making a tangible everyday difference to a huge number of people’s lives.”
The International Business Awards are the world’s premier business awards program. All individuals and organizations worldwide – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small – are eligible to submit nominations.
The 2020 IBAs received 3,800 entries from organizations and entities in 63 nations and territories. Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of executives worldwide who participated in the judging process from July through early September.
As the ongoing COVID-19 crisis will prevent winners from receiving their awards on stage during a traditional gala IBA banquet, 2020 winners will be celebrated instead during a virtual ceremony on Tuesday, 1 December.
Details about The International Business Awards and the lists of Stevie Award winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/IBA.
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For more information please contact:
Upstream Corporate Communications
Ε: corp.comms@upstreamsystems.com
