Stephen Timms, MP for East Ham and Minister for Digital Britain recently notched up the 1,000,000,000th minute of usage on 3’s free internet-based calling service, ‘Skype on 3’. 

Mr Timms clocked up the billionth minute during a Skype call with the CEO of medical aid charity Merlin, where they discussed the organisation’s work in Haiti. After the recent earthquake, 3 donated five Skypephones to Merlin so the charity’s UK based staff could stay in touch 24/7 with colleagues on the ground in Haiti. The charity plans to stay on in Haiti for as long as it is needed, helping to train local health workers and re-equip health centres crippled by the earthquake.

Speaking after the call, Mr Timms said: “Services like Skype have been vital to the aid being delivered by relief agencies in Haiti.”

He added:

“I know many of my constituents in East Ham use Skype to communicate with their friends and families abroad. In my capacity as Minister for Digital Britain I am looking at ways to modernise the UK’s communications infrastructure.  This will enable internet technologies such as Skype to thrive.”