Social Projects

In 2021, Russia and the world continued to live in the realities of the pandemic, therefore, MTS retained its focus on expanding the availability of its services and programs by integrating the online format, digital solutions and services.

• In 2021, when taking measures to combat COVID-19, a contract tender in St. Petersburg was won to operate a hotline and receive terminated calls to inform the citizens about COVID-19.
• Based on MTS solutions, services to inform citizens via SMS about restrictive measures and measures to combat the spread of COVID-19, as well as services to generate digital and SMS passes for travel in the context of restrictive and quarantine measures, were operating.
• At the beginning of 2021, support for the users traveling abroad continued: ability to make free calls to hotlines of major airlines, airports, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and COVID-19 lines.
• Throughout the entire 2021, free access to information and hotlines for combating COVID-2021 was provided.
• In terms of video surveillance, MTS offered its customers relevant solutions for identifying people with fever.
• Throughout the entire 2021, MTS Bank performed disinfection at the places of detection of diseases with special means engaging certified disinfectors. Communication was carried out following the rules of conduct in public places and in the office, in terms of seating arrangement, online meetings and remote work, on a monthly basis. The Covid_19@mtsbank.ru communication channel where one can promptly inform about their diseases is available, which helps the Bank to take all relevant measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
• MTS presented more than 200 creative workshops on the online platform of “Generation M”, creative charity project by MTS, for children and teenagers who during the pandemic had limited access to attending organizations of extended education and educational events. Schoolchildren completed free training programs in visual arts, singing, acting, blogging, DJing, TV journalism and other creative areas. Within the “Generation M” environmental program, an online educational track was launched to introduce children to responsible consumption, as well as to promote healthy eco-habits for the younger generation.
• During the lockdown, the creative curators of the “Generation M” project held a series of online auditions to the Russian Institute of Theater Arts (GITIS) for applicants to creative universities from the Russian regions.
• Due to the epidemiological situation in 2021, many Russians preferred to stay in their home regions and explore local attractions. Thanks to the opportunities provided by MTS social projects contributing to the development of domestic tourism and ecotourism, they managed to “acquaint themselves” with their native places anew, as well as “virtually” visit other cities and national parks of Russia of their interest. In 2021, the “Urban Legends” MTS social and cultural project (unique people’s audio guides for Russian cities) was launched in 13 new cities, and the “Power Place” environmental education project to create digital content for virtual trips to national parks and nature reserves of the country was launched in five new national parks of Russia.
• As part of the entrepreneurship support program, MTS provided small and micro businesses with free tools and services, Your Business and MTS Marketer, for development and promotion within the “We Know Personally” initiative. The “We Know Personally” interactive map covers 41 cities of Russia with more than 1,500 business points located. The project helps local entrepreneurs engage new customers and partners, as well as participate in the social life of the city, within the limits of restrictions. Additionally, MTS integrated the online format into the “Lady 007” business accelerator, which made it possible to expand the educational course to another five regions.
• Within the “Cultural Code” project, MTS provided services for the digitalization of cultural and historical heritage sites for online study and visiting. The project covers 54 regions of Russia.
• MTS is developing the MTS Media platform, where social-related texts are published on a regular basis. The main objective of such publications is to improve digital literacy and the quality of life of people, primarily through the capabilities of digital services. More than 50 materials with educational and helping content for different target audiences on the topics of health, safety, social assistance from the state, travel restrictions and rules, as well as digital literacy, relevant during the pandemic were published on the platform. These materials collected more than 11.8 million views.
• The portal of the “Mobile Academy” free project for teaching digital literacy to elderly people implemented a series of educational online events that allowed people with limited mobility, those who live in remote areas of Russia or those who held on to the “home regime” to study.
• MTS continued to provide assistance to volunteer communities and the most vulnerable population, for example, the Company supported the collection of food sets for the poor and sets for first-graders from large families; implemented a project to arrange psychological assistance, including through free hotlines in the regions, and supported Russian cultural and educational centers in organizing educational and helping online broadcasts.