Regional Integration: World’s First Borderless Network

In September 2006 after Celtel was acquired by Zain of Kuwait it launched “One Network”, the world’s first borderless network in East Africa (Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania). Celtel expanded this in November 2007 to a further nine African countries. Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Burkina Faso, Chad, Malawi, Niger and Nigeria became connected offering over 400 million people in 12 countries the opportunity to communicate freely across geographical borders without roaming call surcharges.

On 14 April 2008, Zain extended the service to Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan and Sudan where more than 14 million Zain customers now have the same benefits. Zain has linked the Middle East to the 12 African One Network countries. The service is now available to more that 63 million Zain Group customers in 17 countries spread across Africa and the Middle East. Another three Middle East and three African countries were recently added.

Source: Mamadou Kolade, Director, Regulatory Affairs, Zain.