AT&T supports TSF at Spa-Francorchamps
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced that it would mark the 10th anniversary of the global charity Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF), the first humanitarian organization specialised in providing emergency telecommunications, through the placement of the charity’s logo on the AT&T Williams race car of Kazuki Nakajima during the Belgium Grand Prix weekend.
AT&T has supported TSF since 2003 through an annual contribution to the French based organisation and this initiative recognizes the continuing global support for TSF by AT&T.
The TSF logo, underlined by the AT&T tag line “Delivered by AT&T” will appear on the headrest of Kazuki’s Williams-Toyota FW30 in a special one-off initiative by AT&T, the title sponsor for the Formula One team.
The presence of the TSF logo will provide the charity with an opportunity to raise its profile on a global basis during the race weekend both with the estimated 100,000 visitors expected to attend the Spa Francorchamps circuit, and by the exposure the opportunity to the estimated worldwide television audience of 300 million people.
Commenting on the opportunity to raise the charity profile Lloyd Salvage, AT&T’s Vice President for Global Segment Marketing said: “As a global business AT&T is committed to supporting the communities where we work around the world. Our long-standing and continuing support of TSF reflects this commitment and we are delighted to raise the profile of TSF and to highlight the extraordinary work they do in the most difficult of circumstances. TSF is a leader in using advanced communications technology to bring humanitarian support to those who most need it and for AT&T, a company whose vision is to ‘Connect people with their world everywhere they live and work and do it better than anyone else’ we can only applaud their dedication and drive and shared values.”
Monique Lanne-Petit, Director and co-founder of TSF welcomed this unique opportunity provided by AT&T. “We have had a long standing and positive relationship with AT&T. Support from a global organisation like AT&T is very important for TSF in our mission to leverage communications technology for those in real need. After ten years of operations — and with a relationship of five years with AT&T — this chance to raise our profile on a global basis is a fantastic opportunity.”
Today TSF plays a key role in strengthening coordination and communication by deploying telecommunications centres within 24 hours of an emergency. These centres offer broadband Internet access, voice communications, fax lines and all the IT equipment needed for a field office. To do its work TSF uses highly portable and light satellite terminals deployable within minutes with a worldwide coverage — and teams in TSF’s three regional bases are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Since its creation in 1998, TSF deployed to over 50 countries and assisted almost 500 relief organisations and millions of victims. In 2007 alone, TSF responded to 10 emergencies worldwide and more recently was deployed to Myanmar in June in response of Cyclone Nargis which killed 220,000 people and affected over 2 million.
