In another world-first, leading mobile network operator, Zain Mobile Telecommunications Company, announced on Thursday that it has launched cross-border data services across the Middle East and in East Africa on its award winning “One Network” platform. The data service is yet another demonstration of Zain Zain's commitment to expand “One Network's” revolutionary service in terms of geographical coverage and product offerings, this time by being the first mobile operator in the world to successfully introduce cross-border local GRX-based data access, an innovative technical solution which ensures faster access speeds at cost effective local rates than traditional internet roaming. From today, in addition to being able to move freely across geographic borders without roaming call or SMS surcharges and without having to pay to receive incoming calls, all Zain customers, both pre-paid and post-paid, either in the Middle East or in East Africa, can easily and quickly access internet, email, MMS, BlackBerry service and other Zain portals. The countries that benefit from this data service are Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait (soon), Saudi Arabia and Sudan while in East Africa the countries are Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. By the end of 2009 all other African “One Network” countries will join and benefit from this data service at which time cross-continent connectivity will be implemented. “The benefits and synergies of having one brand are taking shape as we deliver and fulfil our promise to be first, daring and different,” said Dr Saad Al Barrak, Zain Group CEO. “'One Network' revolutionized and replaced the concept of roaming and changed the way people communicate with its borderless mobile voice service.
