Zain introduces roaming service on aircraft

Following Zain in Jordan's lead, nine more operators within the Zain Group will soon be providing the same services on aircrafts; including Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria. With the new service, Zain will become a market leader and amongst the first few mobile operators in the world to introduce such services to its customers.

The new technology, installed by AeroMobile, was successfully tried by Zain customers, during the world's first commercial flight to take place with the new innovative technology. The voyage took place recently between Dubai and Casablanca on Emirates Airlines.

"We are proud to be the first mobile service provider in Jordan to offer our customers such a differentiated service," said Zain's Chief Executive Officer Dr Saad Al Barrak who added that Zain has always been a pioneer in introducing top of the line services in Jordan and across the Middle East. "With mobile phones becoming an important part of people's everyday lives, we are delighted to offer our customers the choice of using their own mobile phones to contact friends, family or colleagues during flights and therefore making their lives easier," he said.

Al Barrak further noted that Zain had signed an agreement with AeroMobile early in 2006, having seen the potential this technology has to offer to its customers. "During the initial phase, Zain's customers in Jordan can now stay connected on board of a number of Emirates flights. The service will be later expanded to include all flights on Emirates as well as other airlines that have partnered with AeroMobile," added Al Barrak.

Zain in Jordan's International Roaming Manager Mervette Al-Shihabi said: "Through our partnership with AeroMobile, the company will further enhance its international mobile roaming services". "This follows the successful launch of Zain in Jordan's Marine roaming Services in 2006," she added.

Zain's agreement with AeroMobile includes International Roaming Services for all Zain in Jordan's customers through which they can now enjoy using voice calls as well as SMS services on board. GPRS, Black Berry Services and Push Mail will be also available to customers in the near future.

AeroMobile completed several months of operational trials in an extensive testing procedure in Australia in 2007. The AeroMobile technology ensures that passengers' mobile phones operate at their minimum power settings in order to allow secure use and avoid interference with ground telecoms networks.
For appropriate use of mobile phones on board, all airlines will be providing a list of guidelines, which will include a request for passengers to switch their mobile phones to "silent" mode during the flight. Furthermore, the cabin crew will be able to monitor as well as handle full control of how the system will be used throughout the trip. Passengers wanting to use the service during the trip will receive a text message welcoming them to the AeroMobile system as soon as they switch their mobile phones on.

AeroMobile's Chief Executive Bjorn-Taale Sandberg said: "We are delighted to deliver a genuine world first technology through Zain's network, a mobile operator that is amongst the first in the world to provide such a unique innovative service to its customers. We believe that the ability to communicate efficiently, easily and safely when on board flights will become an every-day feature for business and leisure travelers soon."