Zain launches in Saudi Arabia ahead of the start of Ramadan

Zain today launched commercial services in Saudi Arabia, joining the’ One Network’, Zain’s borderless mobile service offering over 45 million Zain customers in 16 countries favourable rates, free of roaming charges for cross-border communications.

On launch, the operation will have 160 official Zain outlets and over 3,000 authorised distribution points of sales

Zain’s planned coverage area extends to 95 per cent of Saudi Arabia’s population, though the operators own mobile network will initially cover 53 per cent of the population in 36 major cities and 14 highways spanning over 4,000 kilometres. The remaining coverage area will be attained initially through a countrywide roaming service.

Zain will introduce high-speed 3.5G broadband technology to approximately half of the Saudi population offering the latest 3.5G services that include television, video-calling, rich multimedia content and fast Internet access. Zain’s network will be further expanded in stages to eventually cover the entire kingdom.

“We are delighted to have launched services in the economic powerhouse of Saudi Arabia and we intend to fulfil our promise to offer the community world-class telecoms services,” commented Zain Group CEO Saad Al Barrak.

“From day one onwards, our focus is to provide the Saudi community the best services and value for money that mobile technology has to offer,” said Marwan Alahmadi, CEO of Zain Saudi Arabia.

Zain Saudi Arabia has committed investments of over US$1.5 billion in the development of the network. From July 26, Zain offered people the opportunity to reserve a number, with tens of thousands registering their request. On launch date, the operation will have 160 official Zain outlets, over 3,000 authorised distribution points of sales and estimates that over 40,000 independent businesses will act as resellers of recharge cards. The operation currently has a 2,100 strong workforce.

Zain Saudi Arabia is a publicly listed company on the Saudi Stock Exchange ‘Tadawul’, first trading on March 22, 2008.