MANILA – After the Philippines’ two largest telecommunications firms offered free prepaid load and roaming services, Filipinos in Afghanistan will be able to contact authorities and their relatives.
Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) said in an advisory on Wednesday that all Afghanistan-based Filipinos will receive prepaid load on their Smart roaming SIMs and free “Roam Lite 250” subscription with 200 megabytes (MB) for online surfing and social media usage good for three days.
“Smart roamers in Afghanistan can also get instant and free access to Smart’s data roaming manager by going to http://roam.smart.com.ph using their Smart roaming SIM,” Smart said.
The situation in Afghanistan is being monitored, according to Alfredo Panlilio, president and CEO of PLDT Inc. and Smart, and the firms are ready to assist fellow Filipinos.
“Access to communication and information during this time of crisis is of extreme importance. We are also praying for their safety as they await evacuation,” Panlilio said.
Globe Telecom Inc. (Globe) said in a separate advisory that it began extending bill credits to postpaid users and sending free load to prepaid and TM users in Afghanistan on Tuesday.
“Customers can use it to make or receive calls, and send text messages to all networks while in Afghanistan,” Globe said.
To use Globe’s free roaming service, subscribers in the conflict-torn country were urged to connect to Roshan, Globe’s roaming partner.
“To make a call. Dial “+”+ country code + area code + telephone number (ex. +63773101212) or dial “+” + country code + mobile number (ex. +639171234567). To send a text, type “+”+ country code + mobile number (ex. +639171234567),” Globe said.
Taliban troops took control of Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, on Sunday, forcing President Ashraf Ghani to exit the country.
On May 1, US soldiers began to withdraw from Afghanistan, with the Taliban launching massive offensive operations that resulted in the capture of the capitals of the country’s 34 provinces in just a few weeks.
