Top Kuwaiti telecom giant plans to buy African operator
KUWAIT: Kuwait's leading telecommunications mobile provider in 21 countries across the Middle East and Africa on Saturday announced it has re-branded to "Zain" becoming the group's corporate master brand with immediate effect. Four country operations in Kuwait and Bahrain, (both formerly MTC-Vodafone), Jordan (formerly Fastlink) and Sudan (formerly Mobitel) will immediately re-brand to Zain. It will commence operations in Saudi Arabia under the Zain brand in early 2008 after being awarded the third mobile telecommunications licence in July 2007. Its Iraq operator, MTC Atheer, will also re-brand to Zain in the near future after recently winning an extended 15 year nationwide licence. All new or acquired operations run by the group will be branded Zain. (MTC) announced on Saturday its new commercial logo 'Zain' will unify the entire group's operations in 21 countries in the Middle East and Africa with around 32 million clients.
"This re-branding is part of our expansion plans to unify and solidify our existing structure to take stronger steps towards international presence," said the Chief Executive Officer of Zain Dr Saad Al-Barrack in a pre-recorded speech to the press at the Flag Square Saturday. He pointed out Zain is planning to be among the world's 10 leading telecommunications companies over the next four years. Dr Al-Barrack stressed this new commercial logo is a historical turning point in the group's journey since its establishment in 1983 as the first telecommunications company in the region. He added Zain as a company has reflected individuality among other telecommunications companies in the region through its adopted philosophy, depth and approach saying "we are not just enabling telecommunications, we are making history. 'As part of our expansion plans," Dr Barrack added, "Zain will very shortly become listed on the European market."
Meanwhile, Zain executive manager Barrack Al-Subeeh said similar announcements are simultaneously made in Jordan, Bahrain and Sudan to declare the unveiling of the new commercial logo which will be put in use immediately. He said the decision to change the name was not taken overnight but a decision to go global was taken in 2003. "Consultants were asked to present an ideal new logo and we were presented with 400 different names. However, 'Zain' was chosen in November 2005," said Al-Subeeh. "Partnership with Vodafone in 2002 was essential to help us to put a base for a rigid telecommunications company and for the last four years, this global company has given us great benefits. Now it is time to join those major companies and stand in line with them," said Al-Subeeh. Pointing out that Zain will attempt being listed on European markets by October or November 2008, he said the group is looking out for any acquisition or opportunities all over the globe. Commenting on the appearance of the new logo on the screens of devices of clients, Barrack said they were faced with the usage of some very old devices by some clients which won't accept the new logo. "This technicality obstacle will be dealt with very soon," he said.
The Zain logo, said Barrack, reflects a more cheerful challenging phase that the group is living. He added the working of the third telecommunications company in Saudi Arabia for which Zain won the license in July 2007 will begin in the first quarter of 2008 under the logo Zain. As for the anticipated third telecommunications company in Kuwait, he said Zain is prepared for the growing competition and playing it fairly. "We have a set of new services and benefits that would maintain the trust of our clients without the need to change the prices of our services," said Barrack. Meanwhile, during a press conference, CEO of Jordan's Zain Saad Nasser said the new brand will not affect any of Fastlink's services in the country. He said clients traveling to Kuwait, Bahrain or Sudan have to reset their mobile phones to the Zain network, noting that some mobiles might temporarily show MTC's name. Even before the takeover by MTC in 2003 in the Middle East's biggest acquisition deal, Fastlink was viewed as one of Jordan's economic pillars and still remains the favorite mobile provider for over 2 million clients, he explained. With the new brand, he said, Jordan's Zain will be a part of the bigger community that includes over 32 million clients around the world, and that gives better grounds for joint efforts.
© Arab Times 2007
