Batelco launches Batelco World Freedom service

The new service will be available from 25th September.

Included in the list of countries are Saudi Arabia with Aljawal, Jordan (Umniah), Iraq (AsiaCell), Algeria (Djezzy), Norway (Telenor), Luxemburg (Tele2Tango), and Sudan, Nigeria, Ghana and Ivory Coast with MTN.

In addition, customers who roam in Albania, Armenia, Bosnia, Croatia, Estonia, Georgia, Moldova, Mozambique, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia will also benefit from this service.

"Batelco is the first company in the world to provide free incoming calls from anywhere in the world in 21 countries," said Batelco Chief Executive Officer Peter Kaliaropoulos.

"This is great news for our prepaid and postpaid customers, who travel to the countries covered by the new service."

"The new value-added service will further strengthen ties between family and friends, as many residents of Bahrain have relatives located in these overseas locations. It will be beneficial for travelers to Saudi Arabia especially during Hajj and Omrah," said Mr. Kaliaropoulos.

Currently, Batelco mobile users can make and receive calls, send and receive text messages and use a raft of additional services through commercial roaming agreements that Batelco has with more than 400 mobile operators for all roaming services, all over the world.

"It is anticipated that further operators from other locations in the region will sign agreements with Batelco soon to deliver reduced roaming rates to their subscribers and Batelco customers," Mr. Kaliaropoulos added.

"Batelco supports the GSMA initiatives to deliver better roaming rates to customers across the MENA markets. Commercial negotiations between operators will deliver significant value to customers without the need for unilateral and interventionist regulatory involvement, which does not take into account the size of various markets," he elaborated.

"The introduction of the new Batelco World Freedom is in line with the Company's long-term policy of keeping all its mobile customers in touch while they travel around the world at the most affordable prices," Mr. Kaliaropoulos concluded.