Zain (T) launches 3.5G ultra high-speed Internet service
A newly branded Zain shop. The company has recently launched several new products in Tanzania and Kenya. Photo/FILE
Zain Tanzania has introduced 3.5G services that will make it possible for its customers to tele-conference using their handsets.
Managing director Kahled Muhtadi told The EastAfrican the service was a response n to customer needs.
“We have received positive feedback from our customers in Dar es Salaam who have been using the service for the past two weeks,” said Mr Muhtadi.
Zain subscribers in Tanzania can already access the Internet via the GPRS/Edge service, which is available throughout the country.
Mr. Muhtadi said: “The 3.5G technology now offers users a maximum speed of seven megabits per second over the mobile network.
This ultra high speed Internet service is currently available to Zain subscribers in parts of Dar es Salaam — in the city centre, Kariakoo and the Peninsular suburbs.”
The maximum speed currently offered in the market is two megabits per second.
“Subscribers in Dar es salaam will have access to ultra high-speed Internet services and will, for the first time, be able to make video-calls, send video clips, download pictures and music at the touch of a button,” said Mr Muhtadi, adding that Zain Tanzania and Zain Ghana were the only countries with a 3.5G network within Zain’s 16 operations in Africa.
According to Mr Muhtadi, subscribers have a variety of options starting from a 15 megabyte bundle at a monthly fee of Tsh5,250 ($4) to the unlimited bundle, which goes for a monthly fee of Tsh100,000 ($83).
Currently, the company has set up demonstration centres at the Julius Nyerere International Airport, the Sea Cliff Village and at all it Customer service centres.
A key feature of the 3.5G network technology is its compatibility with existing technologies in the market. It can be integrated into a variety of data management devices such as point-of-sale machines, automated teller machines and video cameras.
Mr Muhtadi said that the ultra-high speed Internet will be deployed in all major urban areas in Tanzania by the end of 2009.
He said Zain “On the Go” subscribers will also be able to access their full office features via the Blackberry service both inside and outside Tanzania.
“With Zain’s data roaming agreements with 87 operators in 49 countries, our subscribers will never be out of touch when they travel to any of the major business or tourism destinations across the world,” said Mr Muhtadi.
Last year, Zain Tanzania was voted the 2007 Most Respected Telecommunications Company in East Africa in the CEOs Most Respected Company Survey conducted by the Nation Media Group and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Zain has invested in excess of $180 million in network expansion in Tanzania. The investment in the 3.5G technology was a part of this.
Zain Tanzania was launched in November 2001 as Celtel Tanzania and was the fifth entrant into the then highly competitive cellular market in Tanzania.
It is said to be the coverage leader in Tanzania boasting over 3 million subscribers and is the fastest growing mobile telecommunications company in the country. It is now in more than 180 towns and villages.
This year Zain was voted the third most respected company in East Africa. It is a leading emerging markets player in the field of telecommunications aiming to become one of the top ten mobile operators in the world by 2011.
Zain was established in 1983 in Kuwait as the region’s first mobile operator.
Since 2003, it has grown significantly becoming the 4th largest mobile network in the world in terms of geographic presence with a footprint in 22 countries spread across the Middle East and Africa providing mobile voice and data services to 56.3 million active customers (as at 30 September, 2008)
It operates in Bharain, Burkina Faso, Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Iraq and Jordan.
Other countries with Zain operations include Kenya, Kuwait, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
Mobile phone operator Zain has announced the largest ever capital raising in Kuwait’s history sees 99% of shareholders subscribe
Last year Zain Group, the leading mobile telecom operator in the Middle East and Africa, announced that it had raised US$4.49 billion through a capital increase with 99% of all shareholders subscribing. The funds raised will be used to finance further acquisitions.
The successful completion of the largest capital increase in the history of Kuwait is a unanimous vote of confidence by our shareholders in Zain’s management team.
