(Photo from TE Data)
TE Data, the internet service provider by Telecom Egypt (TE), launched a new, free service titled M3ak (Arabic for “with you”) to help customers with hearing disabilities.
During the Q4 2013, the internet company hired 10 employees with hearing disabilities and provided them with adequate training for the position of customer service agents.
According to communication manager at TE Data Mervat Abu Shady, customers with hearing disabilities can request technical assistance through video conferences with trained TE Data agents and use sign language to communicate.
“We noticed that people with hearing disabilities spend a lot of their time surfing the internet and chatting because it is an easier form of communication,” Abu Shady said. “We decided to offer this customer service to our disabled clients as well do with the 19777 call service.”
Abu Shady said the service is completely free and does not consume from customers’ internet quota.
The communications manager pointed out that this is the first phase of the project, adding that the company has intentions to increase the number of agents if the service proved successful.
“This way, we hire and offer job opportunities for Egyptians with hearing disabilities while at the same time benefit the client,” Abu Shady said.
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) cited Telecom Egypt’s CEO Mohamed El-Nawawy as saying: “Last year, TE appointed 30 visually disabled persons at Telecom Egypt’s customer service centre and the national directory of the country”.
